Florilegium
Director Ashley Solomon
Regular performances in some of the world's most prestigious venues have confirmed Florilegium's status as one of Britain's most outstanding period instrument ensembles. Following a performance at London's Wigmore Hall, The Times newspaper wrote: Florilegium climbed the heights of dancing bliss and left the Wigmore sighing with pleasure. They have become an indispensable feature on the early music landscape.
Formed in 1991, Florilegium quickly established a reputation for stylish and exciting interpretations of music from the baroque era to the early romantic revolution. Among the numerous residencies they held was the coveted post of Ensemble-in-Residence at London's Wigmore Hall, a position they enjoyed from 1998 to 2000, performing several series of concerts each year and becoming actively involved in the Hall's education work. Since September 2008 they have been Ensemble in Association at the Royal College of Music, where they take five string, wind and keyboard coaching sessions each term on 18th century baroque repertoire.
Concert engagements have taken Florilegium throughout Europe, North and South America, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia and concert venues have included the Sydney Opera House, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Handel Haus in Halle, the restored Frauenkirche in Dresden, Théâtre Grevin in Paris and the Frick Collection in New York.
Florilegium's performances range from intimate chamber works to large-scale orchestral repertoire. The Florilegium Choir under the musical directorship of David Hill perform baroque choral and orchestral repertoire including mainstream passions and oratorios. Florilegium regularly collaborate with some of the world's finest singers including Dame Emma Kirkby, Elin Manahan Thomas and Robin Blaze. Since their first collaboration at Easter 2001, Florilegium have been regular guests of The Bach Choir and David Hill at the Royal Festival Hall.
Their over twenty recordings for Channel Classics have been awarded many prizes including a Gramophone Award nomination, Editor’s Choice from Gramophone, Diapasons d’Or and Chocs de la Musique. Florilegium’s CD of Telemann’s Paris Quartets Vol 2 received the Classical Internet Award from Classicstoday.com. The Bach Cantatas disc with Johannette Zomer was awarded a 2008 Edison Award, Dutch music’s most prestigious prize. The second volume of Baroque Music from Bolivian Missions was nominated for a 2008 BBC Music Magazine award, and BBC Music Magazine selected volume 3 as Disc of the Month for April 2010. A disc of music by Pergolesi was released in May 2010 and was BBC Music Magazine’s CD choice in the vocal category in July 2010. Future recordings include Florilegium's arrangements of Bach's Organ Trio Sonatas, and a recording of works by Vivaldi with Elin Manahan Thomas, which will include his ‘Il Gran Mogul’, the recently-rediscovered flute concerto, and a CD of works by Couperin.
www.florilegium.org.uk
