Academy of Ancient Music

The Academy of Ancient Music is one of the world’s great orchestras; a household name renowned across the globe for the freshness and vitality of its musicianship. Concerts across six continents and over 250 recordings since its formation by Christopher Hogwood in 1973 demonstrate the AAM’s pre-eminence in music of the baroque and classical periods.

The AAM specialises in performing on instruments dating from the time when the music was composed. Under Hogwood’s visionary leadership, it established itself as a leading authority on how music was originally performed: this pioneering work had a transformative impact on the world of classical music, and lies at the heart of the AAM’s reputation for musical excellence.

In 2006, Hogwood assumed the title of Emeritus Director and passed leadership of the AAM on to the brilliant young keyboard player Richard Egarr. The vibrancy of Egarr’s performances with the orchestra has left concertgoers around the world on the edges of their seats. USA National Public Radio christened him “the Bernstein of early music”, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote “with Richard Egarr’s brilliance as its Music Director, this orchestra is playing better than ever”. Egarr’s first recording as AAM Music Director was awarded the coveted Gramophone Award for baroque instrumental music; his second soared to number 1 in Amazon.com’s “Movers and Shakers in Music” chart.

The vitality of the AAM’s music making continues to be fostered by a range of guest directors. Hogwood — now Emeritus Director — marks the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death with Arianna in Creta, the culmination of a series of annual Handel opera performances. Conductor Paul Goodwin and violinist-director Pavlo Beznosiuk both lead European tours, AAM wind players perform their own programme of Mozart serenades, and the orchestra continues to work with Stephen Layton and Polyphony and with Stephen Cleobury and the choir of King’s College, Cambridge.

The AAM’s pioneering recordings under Hogwood for Decca’s L’Oiseau-Lyre label cover much of the baroque and classical orchestral canon. They include the first recordings on period instruments of Mozart’s complete symphonies and Beethoven’s piano concertos, and prize-winning opera recordings starring Cecilia Bartoli, Emma Kirkby and Joan Sutherland. Further projects have resulted in recordings for EMI, Chandos, Erato and Harmonia Mundi, and the orchestra has released award-winning recordings with the choirs of King’s College, Cambridge and New College, Oxford.

With Richard Egarr, the orchestra is currently in the process of releasing a new cycle of Handel’s instrumental music published as Op.1–7. Other forthcoming recordings include Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum with Stephen Layton and the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, and JS Bach’s complete Brandenburg Concertos, again under Egarr.

The AAM is Orchestra-in-Residence at the University of Cambridge.