Academy of Ancient Music
The Academy of Ancient Music is among the highest-regarded period-instrument orchestras in the world. Initially focused on the music of the Baroque, the Academy has grown to perform music from the Classical period as well as new music written for historical instruments. The orchestra has recorded and performed prolifically since its founding, working with leading performers and ensembles from the historical performance sphere and beyond.
Keyboardist Christopher Hogwood established the Academy of Ancient Music in 1973, using as his model an ensemble that had been founded in 1726 to perform music that was at least 150 years old. Thus, Hogwood's orchestra was one of the first in modern times to perform Baroque works on Baroque instruments. Hogwood chose members who were not only masters of their instruments but also scholars of the performance style of the period. The orchestra quickly gained recognition for its authentic performances and recordings, or at least stirred up musicological debate. In 1978, it spawned a Classical period orchestra to perform the works of Mozart, Haydn, and their contemporaries. That orchestra has recorded or taken on recording the complete symphonies of Mozart (the first such cycle on period instruments), Haydn, and Beethoven, and the complete piano concertos of Beethoven and Mozart. Recorded for Decca, these were under the direction of Hogwood, who also led recordings of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, Haydn's Orfeo ed Euridice, and Handel's Rinaldo, all of which were prize winners and featured Cecilia Bartoli.
In 1996, Andrew Manze was named associate director, and Paul Goodwin was named associate conductor, allowing the Academy to expand its performance schedule and begin recording for the Harmonia Mundi label. The Academy also began extending invitations to others, such as Stephen Cleobury with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Edward Higginbottom with the Choir of New College, Oxford; Stephen Layton with Polyphony; and Masaaki Suzuki with the Japan Bach Collegium to be guest directors, furthering the Academy's vocal and choral repertoire. Instrumentalists Giuliano Carmignola, Richard Egarr, and Pavlo Beznosiuk were also asked to guest direct.
Goodwin began commissioning new works specifically for the distinctive instruments of the Academy, the first being 1997's Eternity's Sunrise for voice & baroque ensemble by John Tavener. Other commissioned works came from David Bedford; John Woolrich, whose Arcangelo for the group commemorated the 350th birthday of Arcangelo Corelli; and Thea Musgrave. Mahan Esfahani was commissioned to orchestrate Bach's Art of the Fugue, giving its premiere at the 2012 BBC Proms.
Manze stepped down from his post in 2003, as the Academy celebrated its 30th anniversary. The ensemble marked the year by also celebrating the Corelli anniversary and the 60th birthday of John Tavener in special concerts, and by beginning an exploration of the music of Mendelssohn, once again expanding its musicological horizons. Egarr was named associate director in 2005 and music director the following year, succeeding Hogwood, who was named director emeritus. The Academy's discography continues to grow, recording for the Decca, Signum Classics, and ABC Classics labels, among others. In 2013, the orchestra created and began recording on its own label, AAM Records, where it issued a recording of Dussek's Messe Solemnelle in 2020. That year, the Academy was also heard on a 2019 recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion with the King's College Choir, under Cleobury.
© Patsy Morita & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Mozart: Piano Concertos
Academy of Ancient Music, Robert Levin, Laurence Cummings, Ya-Fei Chuang
Classical - Released by AAM Records on Nov. 3, 2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 5 & Church Sonata No. 17
Academy of Ancient Music, Laurence Cummings, Bojan Čičić, Robert Levin
Chamber Music - Released by AAM Records on Jun. 23, 2023
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Requiem Realisations
Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury, Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Classical - Released by Kings College Cambridge on Apr. 8, 2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Trio Sonatas Op.2 & Op. 5 (Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr)
Classical - Released by harmonia mundi on Oct. 13, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.S. Bach : Orchestral Suites
Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr
Chamber Music - Released by Academy of Ancient Music on Nov. 7, 2014
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 21 & 24
Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr, Robert Levin
Classical - Released by Academy of Ancient Music on Mar. 3, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Silete Venti, Gloria, Salve Regina – Vivaldi: Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera
Grace Davidson, Academy of Ancient Music
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Jun. 29, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 6-8
Academy of Ancient Music, Robert Levin
Concertos - Released by AAM Records on Mar. 8, 2024
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Baroque Journey
Lucie Horsch, Academy of Ancient Music, Bojan Čičić
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Feb. 15, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Rinaldo - Complete Original 1711 Version
Cecilia Bartoli, David Daniels, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Oct. 16, 2000
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 Nos. 1-12
Academy of Ancient Music and Andrew Manze
Classical - Released by harmonia mundi on Jan. 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.C. Bach: Overture & Symphonies
Academy of Ancient Music, Simon Standage
Classical - Released by Chandos on Oct. 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos & Sonatas
Steven Lubin, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Chandos Anthems Nos. 7, 9 & 11a
Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Layton, The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Classical - Released by Hyperion on May 4, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pergolesi: Stabat Mater; Salve Regina
Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Flute and Harp Concerto/Flute Concerto No.1/Bassoon Concerto etc.
Lisa Beznosiuk, Francis Kelly, Danny Bond, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pachelbel: Canon
Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Coffee Cantata; Peasant Cantata
Emma Kirkby, Rogers Covey-Crump, Thomas David, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
Jaap Schröder, Christopher Hirons, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Albinoni: Concertos Op.9 Nos.1-12
Andrew Manze, Frank de Bruine, Alfredo Bernardini, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo