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
-
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
John Nelson, The English Concert
Opera - Released by Warner Classics on 24 Nov 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Serse
The English Concert, Harry Bicket
Opera - Released by Linn Records on 2 Jun 2023
Gramophone: Recording of the Month24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: La Resurrezione
The English Concert, Harry Bicket, Sophie Bevan
Classical - Released by Linn Records on 8 Apr 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: 3 Violin Concertos
The English Concert and Andrew Manze
Concertos - Released by harmonia mundi on 4 Nov 2006
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Concerto for Oboe & Violin RV 548; Concerto for 2 Violins RV 516
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 4 Feb 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Rodelinda
The English Concert, Harry Bicket
Classical - Released by Linn Records on 14 May 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Oboe Concerto in C Major, K. 314; C.P.E. Bach: Oboe Concerto in E-Flat Major, Wq. 165; Lebrun: Oboe Concerto No. 1 in D Minor
Paul Goodwin, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 21 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Night Music
The English Concert and Andrew Manze
Classical - Released by harmonia mundi on 10 Jan 2003
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Water Music
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Le quattro stagioni
Simon Standage, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gluck / Haydn / Mozart - Opera Arias
Anne Sofie von Otter, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Concertos
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach, J.S.: Concertos & Orchestral Suites
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Missa in angustiis "Nelson Mass"; Te Deum
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: The Organ Concertos
Simon Preston, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks (Original Version 1749)
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi : L'estro armonico - 6 Flute Concertos
Lisa Beznosiuk, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mr. Corelli in London: Recorder Concertos, La Follia, after Corelli's op.5
Maurice Steger, The English Concert, Laurence Cummings
Classical - Released by harmonia mundi on 13 Apr 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: L'estro armonico Op.3
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1987
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: The Symphonies
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonies 1-4, Cello Concerto in A
The English Concert, Andrew Manze
Symphonic Music - Released by harmonia mundi on 14 Nov 2006
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo