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Shakespeare sonnets put to music for Cultural Olympiad
8 May 2012
Lynda Sayce and David Miller play theorbosDanny Higgins
The sonnets of Shakespeare have been set to music for the Cultural Olympiad. Using period instruments and styles with modern recording techniques, the album Shakespeare: The Sonnets has been recorded in London over the past six months.
The project has been led by I Fagiolini’s Robert Hollingworth. He said of the project: ‘I’m not sure you ever need an excuse to work on Shakespeare, but 2012 does seem a very good time; the Cultural Olympiad, the focus on Shakespeare by the RSC and the Globe.’
The lyrics from all of the songs on the album come directly from Shakespeare, with no edits or additions having been made. In some cases sentences have been switched to create a more contemporary structure, but the entirety of Shakespeare’s words remain untouched.
The album includes instruments such as the lirone, a 13-string cello-like instrument and the theorbo which appears on eight of the album’s tracks. Other more commonly-known period instruments also appear such as the viol, harpsichord and lute. Hollingworth said: ‘Our recording brought together a lot of Tudor instruments, Italian instruments from the time as well, together with London’s fantastic crop of singers.’
Vocals for the album are provided by artists such as Megan Henwood, who won BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Musician of the Year competition, folk singer Eliza Carthy and Hollingworth’s ensemble I Fagiolini feature on the track Love is a babe.
Vocalist Robin Scott said: ‘What we’re doing is bringing Shakespeare to life in a modern and relevant way. We’ve taken works that were written during the reign of Elizabeth I and reimagined them for the reign of Elizabeth II.’
For more information visit www.shakespearethesonnets.com
Harnoncourt receives Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal
6 May 2012
Nikolaus Harnoncourt with John GilhoolyRoyal Philharmonic Society
Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt has been awarded a gold medal by The Royal Philharmonic Society. The 82 year old was presented with the prize by RPS chairman John Gilhooly.
The accolade was awarded to Harnoncourt during a concert at The Barbican, where he was conducting a performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, for whom he acts as honorary guest conductor.
Harnoncourt is considered to be one of the early advocates of the period instrument movement. In 1953, with his wife Alice, he founded the baroque ensemble Concentus Musicus Wien, performing and recording work with period instruments. Harnoncourt collaborated with Gustav Leonhardt during the 1970s in an attempt to record all of Bach’s cantatas, a feat which they achieved in 1990.
A citation from the RPS paid tribute to his work: ‘Nikolaus Harnoncourt is a pioneer in the early period instrument revival, but much more besides. As a conductor his name is legendary with singers for his extraordinary vision into early, baroque, classical and even operetta. Performances with Harnoncourt are always unique and special.’
‘Nearly 60 years ago he formed the Concentus Musicus Wien with period instruments, but he also works with most of the world's main orchestras using modern instruments and was one of the earliest pioneers of this dual approach. He is a man who is dedicated to music and humanity.’
He said, when accepting his award, ‘Without a composer and wonderful musicians, I am a speck of dust.’ Harnoncourt, a talented conductor, cellist and teacher, joins a list of notable RPS gold medal recipients including Brahms and Stravinsky.
Handel to feature in Queen’s Diamond Jubilee pageant
19 March 2012
Royal Barge by WestministerJoseph Bennett
To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a pageant of 1000 boats will take to the River Thames to transport her from Hammersmith to Greenwich. There will be ten sections of the flotilla, and musical barges will separate each one.
There will be an early music influence among the performances from the Academy of Ancient Music, who will perform Handel’s Water Music. Another of the musical barges amongst the pageant will be dedicated to performing newly composed music. Ten British film composers will be aboard, including Stephen Warbeck and Debbie Wiseman. The composers are set to perform a suite inspired by Handel’s Water Music.
An ensemble of over 100 amateur choir singers from around the commonwealth will also be providing music for the pageant. They will be assembled and lead by composer Orlando Gough and coach Mary King. Poet and playwright, Carol Ann Duffy will write the lyrics for a new piece of music for the occasion, written with composer Gough.
The river pageant will take place on 3 July.
For more information visit www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org
For more information visit www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org
Dutch harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt dies aged 83
18 January 2012
Early music pioneer and musician Gustav Leonhardt has died at the age of 83.
The conductor has been described as a pioneer and a virtuoso. Leonhardt played a significant role in the early music movement of the 20th century. While he was better-known as a harpsichordist he also was a talented organist, scholar, conductor and teacher.
Last December there had been reports from French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur that the conductor had retired from live performances. His last performance was at the Théâtre Des Bouffes Du Nord, Paris.
He was known among his peers as a serious-minded musician, driven by a desire for authenticity in early music. Leonhardt has taught many contemporary leading harpsichordists.
A statement released by Rayfield Artists in December, concerning the musicians retirement, described working with Leonhardt as an ‘immensely fruitful and rewarding experience for us. Truly one can say that an hour with him is worth a year at university.’
Gustav Leonhardt was born 28 May 1928 and passed away 16 January 2012 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, violinist Marie Leonhardt.
Subscribe to Early Music Today to read the full obituary in the March-May issue.
The Enchanted Island to screen live in 80 UK cinemas
17 January 2012
The Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Enchanted Island is to be broadcast live to venues throughout the UK. The Baroque-inspired production, which includes arias by Handel, Vivaldi and Rameau will be seen on cinema screens on Saturday 21 January 2012.
The world premiere of the play will be transmitted via satellite from New York. A number of cinemas in London will be showcasing the event, including The Barbican. Regions across the UK will also join in with available cinemas listed from Aberdeen to Yeovil.
The Enchanted Island is inspired by composers of early music and two of Shakespeare’s plays, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play has been devised by British director and writer Jeremy Sams.
In this contemporary revival, four lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream find themselves on an island where they discover Sycorax and Prospero battling against each other. The production is inspired by 18th-century pastiches and masques.
The Enchanted Island will be broadcasted live in HD throughout the country on 21 January. For more information about the production and to see the list of participating cinemas in your area visit www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/liveinhd/uk.aspx
