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Florilegium
period
instrument ensemble
Following
Florilegium's 10th Anniversary concert at London's Wigmore Hall in July 2001,
“The Times” confirmed the group's status as one of Britain's most
outstanding period instrument ensembles: "The whole was a model of stylish
phrasing and finesse... In ten years Florilegium has become an indispensable
feature on the early music landscape".
Florilegium has established a reputation for stylish and exciting
interpretations of music from the Baroque era to the early Romantic revolution
and since its formation in 1991, Florilegium's performances and recordings have
received outstanding critical acclaim around the world.
Florilegium held the coveted post of Ensemble in Residence at Wigmore Hall from
March 1998 to July 2000 and during that time performed several series of
concerts and became actively involved in the Hall's education work. Their last
season as Ensemble in Residence featured a six-concert series marking the 250th
Anniversary of JS Bach's death.
The group has made 14 recordings for the Dutch label Channel Classics and many
of these have been awarded prizes including a Gramophone Award nomination,
Diapasons d'Or and Chocs de la Musique. Florilegium's discography includes
Telemann's Paris Quartets and Concerti
da Camera; music by Leclair, Boismortier & Corrette; Cantatas with the
soprano Julia Gooding by Monteclair; Vivaldi concerti; Chamber music by JSBach,
CPEBach and other members of the Bach family, and three discs of music by
Vivaldi & Haydn with cellist Pieter Wispelwey. Florilegium's recent CD of
music from Telemann's Tafelmusik
collection was awarded Editor's Choice in Gramophone (February 2003) as well as
receiving the groups 6th Diapason d'Or in France (March 2003). On May 4th this
year they will be launching Volume 1 of the Salomon arrangements of Haydn' s London Symphonies at Wigmore Hall. Florilegium has a long-term
project to record the complete series of arrangements by Salomon over the next
four years.
Concert engagements have taken Florilegium throughout Eastern and Western Europe
and to North & South America, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Israel
and Turkey. The group receives numerous invitations to perform at major
international festivals and recent concert venues have included the Sydney Opera
House, Melbourne Symphony Hall, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Beethoven House in
Bonn, Théâtre Grevin in Paris, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Frick
Collection in New York.
Florilegium is a flexible ensemble, performing a range of music from intimate
chamber works to large-scale orchestral repertoire. It works with some of the
world's finest musicians and recent engagements have featured guest artists
including Emma Kirkby, Andrew Manze, Derek Lee Ragin and Michael Chance. There
are also regular collaborations with the Choir of Westminster Abbey directed by
James O'Donnell and the Choir of Winchester Cathedral until recently directed by
David Hill.
This season has already included a tour of North America, two tours of Scotland
and many concerts in the UK. The rest of the season will see Florilegium
performing in Singapore, Spain, Austria (Vienna Konzerthaus), Germany (Handelhaus
in Halle, Bremen Festival, MDR Festival), Slovenia, the Czech Republic, France,
Jersey and Holland. UK concerts will include performances at the Beverley
Festival, Three Choirs Festival, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Winchester
Cathedral and the Newcastle Early Music Festival. Easter 2002 saw Florilegium's
first collaboration with the Bach Choir to perform Bach's St Matthew Passion at
the Royal Festival Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. They shall return to the
Royal Festival Hall this Easter for repeat performances with the Bach Choir.
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