Thursday 19 January 2012
AAM to perform at Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
We are thrilled to announce that the AAM will perform Handel's Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks as part of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, led by Her Majesty The Queen on the afternoon of 3 June 2012.
Read more
Wednesday 18 January 2012
AAM becomes Associate Ensemble at the Barbican Centre
From September 2012, the AAM will become Associate Ensemble at London's Barbican Centre. Joining the LSO, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia as Associates, we will give regular performances at the Barbican, reaching new audiences and putting on more ambitious and stimulating concerts than ever before.
Read more
Monday 19 December 2011
AAM recording voted one of greatest of all time
The AAM's 1980 recording of Handel's Messiah under Christopher Hogwood has been voted one of the greatest recordings of all time. BBC Music Magazine called on some of the world's finest critics to compile a list of the top 50 classical recordings no collection should be without; Hogwood's Messiah made it in at number 25, accompanied by the following comment:
"Stodge no more. In Christopher Hogwood's hands, Messiah was no longer a ponderous and portentous work, but something tightly sprung and which demanded your attention. The period instrument specialist was spring-cleaning well-loved pieces even as his pioneering contemporary Roger Norrington had barely launched the London Classical Players."
Friday 16 December 2011
AAM to perform Messiah live on BBC Radio 3
On Friday 23 December, tune in to BBC Radio 3 to hear the AAM performing Handel's Messiah live from St John's, Smith Square in London. The concert, which begins at 7.30pm, is conducted by Stephen Layton and stars Katherine Watson, Iestyn Davies, James Gilchrist and Neal Davies.
Read more
Friday 16 December 2011
Exclusive film: AAM performing JS Bach
To celebrate Christmas, we'll be releasing a film of the AAM performing JS Bach's Sinfonia to Cantata No.42, recorded in September. Ivan Hewett described the performance as "tripping along with natural, unforced joy"; to see it, just join AAM Update by entering your email address at the foot of any page on this website. We'll then send you an exclusive link to the film. Happy watching!
Monday 05 December 2011
Sumi Jo interviewed on BBC World Service
Before her performance with the AAM in London last month, the South Korean soprano Sumi Jo talked to the BBC World Service about her early life in Korea, her musical life, and her recently-discovered love of the baroque and classical repertoire.
Read more
Friday 02 December 2011
£10 and £15 seats for Messiah in London just released
The AAM's festive performance of Handel's Messiah at London's Barbican Hall on 14 December is selling fast - and we've just released £10 and £15 balcony seats. Book soon for this great Christmas treat!
Read more
Tuesday 29 November 2011
2012 UK tour dates with Alina Ibragimova announced
In February and March 2012, violinist Alina Ibragimova directs a period-instrument band for the first time in a five-concert UK tour with the Academy of Ancient Music. The performances also mark Alina's AAM debut.
Read more
Monday 21 November 2011
AAMplify workshop at the Guildhall School
On Thursday 17 November, players from the AAM sat side-by-side with students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in the first-ever AAMplify workshop in London. Exploring music by Charpentier and Rebel, the workshop marks the beginning of what we know will be a strong collaboration between the two organisations. You can see photos from the workshop on flickr - just follow the link below.
Read more
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Watch Sumi Jo singing with the AAM
On 25 November, Sumi Jo makes a rare London appearance in an all-Mozart programme with the AAM. For more details and to book tickets, click here.
Watch Sumi singing Handel with the AAM in our latest film, shot during our tour of the Far East in May 2011.
Read more
Wednesday 05 October 2011
New film: Shunske Sato plays and discusses Paganini
Ahead of his UK debut performing Paganini's Second Violin Concerto with the AAM next week, we caught up with Shunske Sato to talk about the impact of Paganini on violin playing and on the great piano virtuosos of the day. The film includes Shunske playing Paganini's Moto Perpetuo with AAM Music Director Richard Egarr.
Read more
Saturday 10 September 2011
Happy birthday, Christopher Hogwood
Wishing a very happy 70th birthday to AAM founder Christopher Hogwood. Christopher was Music Director of the AAM from 1973 to 2006, establishing it at the forefront of the period-instrument movement and as one of the world's most celebrated orchestras. His legacy with the AAM and the musical world is immense, and he continues to break new ground with his conducting and musicology. In the words of Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Christopher truly deserves the title of "a pioneer". You can listen to tributes from friends and colleagues, including singers Dame Emma Kirkby and Catherine Bott, conductor Neville Marriner and Gramophone Magazine Editor in Chief James Jolly, by following the link below.
Read more
Friday 02 September 2011
Watch Shunske Sato playing Corelli in our latest video
The young Japanese violin prodigy Shunske Sato will make his UK debut playing Paganini with the AAM in October 2011. You can watch him in action in our latest film, playing a sonata by Corelli with AAM Music Director Richard Egarr at the harpsichord.
Read more
Friday 29 July 2011
AAM guest artists nominated for 2011 Gramophone Artist of the Year Award
Congratulations to violinist Alina Ibragimova and trumpeter Alison Balsom, who have been nominated for the 2011 Gramophone Artist of the Year Award. We'll be performing with Alison on 9 August 2011 in Worcester (book here) and Alina will join us in February 2012 for performances of Biber, JS Bach and Vivaldi in London (book here) and Cambridge (book here).
Read more
Friday 29 July 2011
Listen to AAM perform Bach on BBC Radio 3
Tune in to BBC Radio 3 at 6.30pm tomorrow evening (Saturday 30 July) to hear the AAM perform and explore JS Bach's Magnificat, in an 90-minute broadcast presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch. The programme will be available online until Saturday 6 August.
Read more
Tuesday 05 July 2011
AAM nominated for 2011 Helpmann Award
We're delighted to have been nominated, along with the Berlin Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, for the 2011 Helpmann Award for Best Symphony Orchestra Concert. The nomination is for our performance of Haydn's The Creation in Perth, Australia in February 2011, and the winner will be announced on 1 August at a ceremony at the Sydney Opera House.
Read more
Friday 17 June 2011
AAM explores music by JS Bach's family on BBC Radio 3
On Saturday 18 June at 1pm, BBC Radio 3 will broadcast a sixty-minute programme exploring the music of JS Bach's family, with performances from the AAM. The programme will be presented by Catherine Bott, and features choral and instrumental music by JS Bach's ancestors and sons.
Read more
Friday 10 June 2011
AAM records Bach with BBC
The AAM will record music by JS Bach and his family for future release on BBC Radio 3 as part of the 'BBC Philharmonic Presents' series
Read more
Thursday 02 June 2011
Sir Nicholas Kenyon discusses Bach
Sir Nicholas Kenyon, distinguished music critic and former Controller of BBC Radio 3, will give two pre-concert talks in conversation with AAM Music Director Richard Egarr in July.
Read more
Tuesday 17 May 2011
AAM wows audiences across Far East
The AAM's tour of the Far East draws to a close with tonight's performance in the Esplanade Centre, Singapore. Over the past two weeks we've performed to thousands of people in South Korea, Taiwan, China and Singapore.
Read more
Friday 06 May 2011
AAM 2011-12 season announced
Full details of the AAM's 2011-12 London and Cambridge season have been announced. We'll be performing music spanning three centuries with a stunning array of guest artists, including violinist Alina Ibragimova, singers Sumi Jo and James Gilchrist, and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.
Read more
Tuesday 19 April 2011
AAM prepares for performances of St John Passion
The AAM continues its collaboration with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge with two sold-out performances of JS Bach's St John Passion in Cambridge and London
Read more
Friday 01 April 2011
2009-10 annual review published
The AAM's 2009-10 annual review has been published, giving details of the orchestra's artistic achievements and financial performance last year, and of its plans for future periods.
Read more
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Academy of Ancient Music secures regular public funding for first time
The Academy of Ancient Music has secured regular public funding for the first time in its 37-year history. The orchestra will receive over £500,000 between 2012 and 2015 as part of Arts Council England’s national portfolio.
Read more
Friday 18 March 2011
AAM performs Handel arias to great acclaim
The AAM's performances of Handel's finest tragic arias with Canadian duo Karina Gauvin and Bernard Labadie have been met with a rapturous reception by audiences in London and Cambridge.
Read more
Wednesday 02 March 2011
AAM tour blog — updates from China and Australia
AAM violinist William Thorp tells us all the news from the AAM’s tour of the Far East.
Read more
Thursday 17 February 2011
AAM performs first-ever complete Brandenburgs in China
The AAM has today given the first performance of the complete Brandenburg Concertos in China, to a packed-out Shanghai Concert Hall. AAM Chief Executive Michael Garvey said that the orchestra was "deeply honoured to be making musical history in this way", and added that it was "truly exciting to be bringing baroque music to the widest international audience".
Read more
Thursday 03 February 2011
“My ears were opened at the Wigmore Hall”
Matthew Parris has written in his column in The Times about our concert last week at Wigmore Hall: "My ears were opened... for a moment I could imagine myself in an 18th-century drawing room, where player and small audience would catch each other’s eyes, wink and smile their appreciation."
Read more
Tuesday 25 January 2011
AAMplify masterclasses and workshops
On 25 January the AAM teamed up with the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Music for a day of workshops and masterclasses, coaching some of the finest musicians of the future as part of our AAMplify scheme. The result? In the words of one student, "the best experience of my musical life".
Read more
Monday 15 November 2010
AAM completes first-ever recording of music by Christopher Gibbons
The AAM has just finished recording a mix of instrumental fantasias, organ voluntaries and choral works by Christopher Gibbons. Wondering who he is, or why we're bothering to perform his music? Read on to find out...
Read more