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
-
The English Concert - The World of Handel
Georg Friedrich Händel, The English Concert
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 22 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Orchestral Suites
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Coronation Anthems; Concerti a Due Cori
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Dettingen Te Deum; Dettingen Anthem
The English Concert, Simon Preston, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, and Strings in A Minor, BWV 1044; Brandenburg Concerto No in D Minor, BWV, 1050
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 21 apr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: The "Sturm & Drang" Symphonies
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Concerti "Alla Rustica"
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Concerti grossi Op.6, Nos.5-8
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Simon Standage, Elizabeth Wilcock, Anthony Pleeth
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Concerti "La Stravaganza" Op.4
Simon Standage, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Orchestral Suites (Overtures) BWV 1067 & 1068 / Triple Concerto
Simon Standage, Lisa Beznosiuk, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: 6 Concerti Grossi Op.3
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Stravaganza - 55 Concertos
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn - Pinnock: Complete Recordings (Collectors Edition)
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert Choir
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 18 aug. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: 7 Concerti for woodwind and strings
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: The Symphonies
Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 22 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Stabat mater; Nisi Dominus; Salve Regina
Michael Chance, Monica Huggett, Lisa Beznosiuk, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Stabat Mater, Gloria
Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert, Michael Chance, The English Concert Choir
Klassiek - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on 11 mrt. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The English Concert: Dall'abaco, Porpora, Marcello, Tartini, Telemann
Klassiek - Released by Signum Records on 5 okt. 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Overtures
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Violin Concertos In C Major Hob.VIIa: 1, In G Major Hob. VIIa: 4, In A Major Hob. VIIa: 3/ Salomon: Romance in D Major
Simon Standage, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Airs & Cantates sacrés
David Daniels, Harry Bicket, The English Concert
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 25 aug. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo