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Academy of Ancient Music

About this Artist

The Academy of Ancient Music is an orchestra with a worldwide reputation for excellence in baroque and classical music. It takes inspiration directly from the music’s composers, using historically informed techniques, period-specific instruments and original sources to bring music to life in committed, vibrant performances.

The ensemble was founded by Christopher Hogwood in 1973 and remains at the forefront of the worldwide early music scene more than four decades on; Richard Egarr became its Music Director in 2006.

The Academy of Ancient Music has always been a pioneer. It was established to make the first British recordings of orchestral works using instruments from the baroque and classical periods and has released more than 300 discs, many of which are still considered definitive performances (among its countless accolades for recording are Classic BRIT, Gramophone and Edison awards.)  It has now established its own record label, AAM Records, and is proud to be the most listened-to orchestra of its kind online.

AAM’s education and outreach programme, AAMplify, nurtures the next generation of audiences and musicians. With this expanding programme, working from pre-school through tertiary education and beyond, AAM ensures its work reaches the widest possible audience and inspires people of all ages, backgrounds and cultural traditions.

2018-2019 season highlights include collaborations with Michael Collins, Lucie Horsch, Nicolas Altstaedt, VOCES8 and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, along with performances of  Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

Their 2019-20 season is set to be equally exciting; to include collaborations with Rowan Pierce, Bojan Čičić, Viktoria Mullova, Benjamin Appl, David Blackadder and Jean Rondeau with performances of Handel’s Rejoice!, and the exhilarating Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, as well as Hadyn, JS and CPE Bach’s Sacred Cantatas.

Based in Cambridge, the AAM is Orchestra-in-Residence at the city’s university, Associate Ensemble at London’s Barbican centre, and Orchestra-in- Residence at the Grange Festival, Chiltern Arts Festival, Music at Oxford and the Apex, Bury St Edmunds.

Visit www.aam.co.uk to find out more.