Jordi Savall
Born on the 1st August 1941 in Igualada (Barcelona province, Spain), Jordi Savall i Bernadet is a cellist, violist, choir director, orchestra leader, and composer. His repertoire spans music dating from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, and from the Baroque period until the nineteenth century. Savall was married to the Spanish soprano Montserrat Figueras from 1968 until her death in November 2011, and is the father of Arianna and Ferran Savall; both singers and musicians.
After studying the cello at Barcelona Conservatory (where he first met Montserrat, his future wife), Jordi Savall took up the viola da gamba during a visit to Paris, during which he discovered the Marin Marais manuscripts at the National Library. From this point on, he never ceased in working to revive an instrument that had fallen into great disrepute. Savall soon met the great Belgian violinist Wieland Kuijken, a supreme reference point in the field. From there, further studies followed at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, where he received instruction from Professor August Wenzinger, another titan of the cello and the viola da gamba, whom he would go on to succeed.
Working notably with the lutenist Hopkinson Smith, he formed the Hespèrion XX ensemble that later became Hespèrion XXI; a formation which would work to revive forgotten and poorly documented scores. In 1991 the violist revealed himself to a wider audience, and in doing so showcased the viola da gamba on his film soundtrack for ‘Tous Les Matins du Monde’ by Alain Corneau. In 1994, he also participated with his two ensembles (the Hespèrion XX and the Capella Reial de Catalunya) in the development of medieval music for the film ‘Jeanne la Pucelle’ by Jacques Rivette.
Since 1968, Jordi Savall has made more than 120 records, as a soloist, and in his various capacities with the Schola Cantorum, the Ensemble Ricercare, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and the Hespèrion XX & XXI, often working in collaboration with his wife and their children. Savall remains dedicated to studies of early Spanish music, through which he has tried to revive the arts of improvisation and authentic instrumentation. He formed his own record label, Alia Voxen, in 1997. In the course of his career, Savall has received many distinctions, including Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (1988), Creu de Saint Jordi (1990), Musician of the Year from the ‘World of Music’ organisation (1992), the Grammy award for Soloist of the Year (1993), the Médaille d’or des Beaux-Arts (1998), Member of Honour from the Vienna Konzerthaus (1999), an Honorary Doctorate from the Catholic University of Louvain (2002), a ‘Victory Music’ for his entire career (2002), the Médaille d’or from the Parliament of Catalunya (2003), the Medal of Honour from the Deutsche Schallplattenkritik (2003), a European Ambassadorship for Intercultural Dialogue (2007), and the Léonie Sonning Music Award (2012).
© Qobuz
Similar artists
-
La Barcha D'Amore
Jordi Savall, Montserrat Figueras
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Nov 10, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'Orchestre de Louis XV : Suites d'orchestre
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jun 7, 2011
The Absolute Sound: Best New Releases Of The Year16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ludi Musici. L'Esprit de la Danse (1430-1650)
Montserrat Figueras, Jordi Savall
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don Quijote de la Mancha : Romances y Músicas
Montserrat Figueras, Hespèrion XX, La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 2005
Cannes Classical Music Award16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lachrimæ Caravaggio
Jordi Savall, Dominique Fernandez
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Mar 27, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Juan Crisostomo De Arriaga: Symphony
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1995
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: 6 Brandenburgische Konzerte
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on May 2, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Louis De Caix D'Hervelois: Pièces De Viole
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eustache Du Caurroy: XXIII Fantasies
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Johann Sebastian Bach: Orchestral Suites (Ouvertures) Bwv1066-1069
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Aug 25, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Samuel Scheidt : Ludi Musici
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marin Marais: Pièces De Viole Du Troisième Livre
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Jan 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chants à la nuit - Musique de la nuit
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jun 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Renaissance
Classical - Released by naïve classique on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jeanne d'Arc : Batailles & Prisons (L’Épopée d’une Visionnaire)
Jordi Savall, Montserrat Figueras
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jun 26, 2012
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Le Concert Spirituel au temps de Louis XV
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jun 15, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'Orchestre De Louis XIII (Le Concert des Nations - Jordi Savall)
Le Concert Des Nations, Jordi Savall
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonio Vivaldi : Teuzzone (Opere teatrale, vol. 16)
Jordi Savall, Le Concert Des Nations, Furio Zanasi, Makoto Sakurada, Roberta Mameli
Full Operas - Released by Opus 111 on Nov 24, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Musicall Humors (Londres, 1605)
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
L'Art de la Fugue (Die Kunst der Fuge)
Classical - Released by Alia Vox on Jan 1, 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo