The English Concert
One of England's earlier period-instrument ensembles devoted to Baroque repertory, The English Concert remains a premier orchestra. The group's bright, lively sound has influenced several generations of Baroque ensembles, and it has spawned several important careers.
The English Concert was founded by harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock in 1972 when he gathered a group of seven players to explore Baroque repertory. The ensemble grew as more players showed interest, and by the following year, it had assumed its current orchestral shape, with about 20 players. The English Concert made its debut in 1973 at the English Bach Festival, and its sound, fresh at the time with Bach-era historical instruments and little string vibrato, made a splash and led to the group's signing with Archiv Produktion, the historical-performance arm of the Deutsche Grammophon label. In 1983, the group established the English Concert Choir, and since then, the massed ensemble has frequently performed 18th century choral works. The English Concert's sound was largely defined by Pinnock, who conducted from the harpsichord; he remained the group's music director until 2003 when he was succeeded by violinist Andrew Manze. Harpsichordist Harry Bicket succeeded Manze in 2007 and remains music director. The English Concert has performed frequently at major London venues, including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, and the BBC Proms, and has made several foreign tours, including a 25th-Anniversary tour of Asia. The ensemble has shown a flair for popularizing historical-instrument performances; under Manze, the group re-created the original performance of Handel's Water Music on a barge in the Thames River for a performance recorded by the BBC and issued in DVD form.
The English Concert is perhaps best known for its recordings, which as of 2021, numbered well over 130, with as many as a half-dozen albums appearing in a single year. The group's contract with Archiv continued for many years; Manze made several albums with the orchestra on Harmonia Mundi, and it has also recorded for Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, and other labels. In 2021, The English Concert backed a production of Handel's opera Rodelinda, recorded on the Linn label.
© James Manheim /TiVo
Similar artists
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Handel: Saul, HWV 53 / Act 3: 77. Dead March
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 21 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trevor Pinnock - A Grand Concert Of Musick
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Simon Standage
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
C.P.E. Bach, J.C. Bach: Sons of Bach Concertos
Classical - Released by CRD Records on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Italian Cantatas
Jennifer Smith, John Elwes, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haendel: Belshazzar
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Symphony No. 6 In D Major "Le Matin; Symphony No. 7 IN C Major "Le Midi"; Symphony No. 8 In G Major "Le Soir"
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Concertos for Harpsichord and Strings
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1981
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Missa Sancti Nicolai; Theresienmesse
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Gloria in D major RV 589
The English Concert, The English Concert Choir, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Concertos for Solo Instruments BWV 1044, 1055 & 1060
David Reichenberg, Lisa Beznosiuk, Simon Standage, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Baroque Mood with The English Concert
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 18 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – The Works
Simon Standage, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fasch: Concerto A8 In D Major FWV L:D1; Concerto In C Minor FWV L:C2; Orchestral Suite In G Minor FWV K:G2; Concerto In B Flat Major FWV L:B1; Concerto In D major FWV L:D14
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The English Concert - Haydn
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 10 Dec 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 – The Works
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with The English Concert & Trevor Pinnock
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 28 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos.4-6; Triple Concerto BWV 1044
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 10 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Water Music; Concerti grossi
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Night Music (Andrew Manze & The English Concert)
Classical - Released by harmonia mundi on 10 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2: "Hallelujah"
John Nelson, The English Concert
Opera - Released by Warner Classics on 3 Nov 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo