Foundation of Instrumental Ensemble: 1973 - England
Foundation of Choir: 1983 - England

The English Concert (Instrumental Ensemble)

The English Concert was founded by Trevor Pinnock in 1973. They have together established a worldwide reputation for the expressive vitality and technical quality of their music-making, and have for many years been amongst Britain's leading period instrument ensembles.

The English Concert promotes its own series of concerts in London and is also in great demand overseas with a repertoire ranging from chamber music to opera. In 2002 the focus for the larger scale work is on J.S. Bach's great religious masterpieces, the St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) and Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), while the orchestral work includes concerts in the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and Hungary. In 2001 The English Concert toured a new Jonathan Miller production of Händel's great opera Tamerlano as a co-production with the Händel Festival, Halle and Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris. The opera was also recorded live at Sadler's Wells in London and the 3-CD set was launched in April 2002 on the new Avie label. Outside Europe, The English Concert has toured the USa, South America and Japan within the last two seasons, and will return to South America in the 2003/04 season and to North America in 2004-2005.

In 2003 Trevor Pinnock will step down as Artistic Director of The English Concert after 30 years in the role. The outstandingly gifted violinist, Andrew Manze, will take up this position in Summer 2003. Andrew has written: "It is a great honour to accept the artistic leadership of The English Concert. I have admired the orchestra and Trevor Pinnock for many years (indeed they were the first period instrument band I ever heard) and am tremendously looking forward to the years ahead."

The Choir of The English Concert

The Choir of The English Concert was formed in 1983 for the first performance this century of Rameau's Acante et Cephise. Since then the choir has taken part in numerous recordings with Trevor Pinnock (including an award-winning recording of Messiah which became Deutsche Gramophon's best-selling CD) and a number of landmark performances, including Purcell’s King Arthur in Argentina for the Purcell Tercentenary in 1995 and the first period instrument performance of Messiah at the Salzburg Festival.

Since 1996 The English Concert has been engaged in a major concert project entitled 'Great Religious Works of the 18th Century'. This was launched with the Messiah performances already mentioned, continuing in 1997 with J.S.Bach's Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) performed in Italy, France, Germany, Austria and at the BBC Proms of that year. The series continued the following year with Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245) and in 1999 with Mozart Requiem (including performances in Salzburg and for the BBC Proms). 2000 saw the most ambitious programme so far for the Choir with 18 performances during the year of Bach St .Matthew Passion (BWV 244), in locations around the world from Tenerife to Tokyo. Although the six-year cycle was completed with a performance of Haydn's Die Schöpfung at the 2001 Lucerne Festival, The English Concert and Choir continue to perform Bach's great religious works. St .Matthew Passion (BWV 244) is a centrepiece of the BBC Proms 2002, and the Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) is to be taken on tour to Spain, Italy and Germany in December 2002.

"14 of the 36 singers in the Choir of The English Concert took turns singing arias (in Bach St .Matthew Passion (BWV 244)), and were so marvellous that they should consider solo careers" concert review from Daily Yomiuri, Tokyo October 2000.

Trevor Pinnock: Short Biography | English Concert | Recordings of Vocal Works | Recordings of Non-Vocal Works
Reviews of Non-Vocal Recordings: Bach’s Partitas for Harpsichord from Pinnock: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Bach Harpsichord with Pinnock

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The English Concert (Official Website)

The English Concert by Moens-artists

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