History of the AAM
The original Academy of Ancient Music
Have you ever wondered how the AAM came to have such an unusual name? The answer is that we borrowed it! The original Academy of Ancient Music was founded way back in 1726 for the purpose of rediscovering “ancient music”, which was then defined as being music composed more than twenty years earlier.
1973
The Academy of Ancient Music is founded by Christopher Hogwood.
September: Under Hogwood’s direction the AAM makes its first recording – Arne: Eight Overtures – which is released the following year.
1974
First public concerts in the UK, in Birmingham, Kent and Devon.
1975
First festival appearance at King’s Lynn, UK; and first concert outside the British Isles, in Bruges, Belgium.
1976
November–December: First major international tour, organised by the British Council, which includes concerts in Egypt, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand.
1977
March: First concert in London at the South Bank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall.
October: First tour of Australia and New Zealand.
1978
Formation of the classical orchestra. Up to this time the AAM played only baroque repertoire with the baroque orchestra. The classical orchestra is formed with instrumentalists specialising in the classical period in order to play later repertoire such as Mozart and Haydn.
August: First appearance at the BBC Proms. The programme is broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall, London on BBC radio — the orchestra’s first UK radio broadcast.
The AAM wins its first major recording industry award, the Grand Prix du Disque-Académie Charles Cros (France), for its recording of six overtures by JC Bach.
1979
The first release in the Mozart symphonies cycle wins a Gramophone Award.
March: The AAM makes its first television appearances in the UK, on BBC TV
1980
The recording of Handel’s Messiah wins an Edison Award (Holland) and a Caecila Prize (Belgium).
February–March: Tour of Germany followed by first concerts in Switzerland.
1981
First tours of Italy and Poland.
1982
Handel’s Messiah is filmed in Westminster Abbey. This is released internationally on video as well as being broadcast on UK television.
First tour of Portugal.
1983
June: First appearance in Finland at the Naantali Festival.
1984
The recording of Vivaldi’s Le quattro stagioni wins the Best British Classical Recording in the British Record Industry Awards, which leads to an appearance in the UK Music Week pop charts.
February: The classical orchestra tours Japan and Taiwan.
September: The baroque orchestra makes the first AAM tour of the USA.
Decca celebrates the AAM's acclaimed discography
1985
Release of first disc in the Beethoven symphonies cycle.
1986
The recording of Haydn’s Symphonies Nos 94 and 96 (‘Surprise’ and ‘Miracle’) wins an Edison Award (Holland).
February–March: Major tour of the USA with the classical orchestra.
May: First tour of Spain.
1987
The recording of Handel’s Athalia, with soloists including Dame Joan Sutherland and Dame Emma Kirkby, wins a Gramophone Award (UK).
October: he AAM tours South America for the first time with concerts in Brazil, and then continues the tour in North America.
1988
January–February: The AAM becomes the first period-instrument orchestra to play in Salzburg.
June: The AAM is the only British orchestra to be invited to take part in the Australian bicentennial celebrations. It goes on to tour Hong Kong and Japan.
1989
February: The AAM inaugurates the first major period-instrument education project, bringing together the skills of inspiring teachers from several early music groups.
April: Filming takes place in Esterháza for the South Bank Show and a commercial video on Haydn, narrated by H. C. Robbins Landon.
October–November: The Beethoven symphonies are toured in Japan and the USA.
AAM on tour
1990
January: The AAM records its first Mozart opera, Die Entfürhung aus dem Serail.
February: Haydn’s The Creation tours Europe. It is recorded by Decca, and filmed in Gloucester Cathedral.
1991
September: The AAM’s recording of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito marks the beginning of a long and successful collaboration with Cecilia Bartoli.
Christopher Hogwood conducts the AAM from a hot air balloon
1992
May: The AAM gives a special televised concert at Prague Castle for Czech President Vaclav Havel.
July: Christopher Hogwood and the AAM accompany Kiri Te Kanawa in a new video drama The Sorceress.
1993
August: The first recording session of the new Decca project to record the complete Mozart keyboard concertos with Robert Levin takes place. Like Mozart himself, Levin will improvise all the cadenzas.
1994
March: Major tour of the USA including the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., Avery Fisher Hall, New York and Orchestra Hall, Chicago.
November: The AAM’s first collaboration with Catherine Turocy and the New York Baroque Dance company in a tour of Japan.
1995
The AAM receives a Gold CD for 15,000 copies sold in Holland of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater.
Paul Goodwin
1996
January: Paul Goodwin is appointed as Associate Conductor and Andrew Manze as Associate Director.
1997
February: The AAM appears at the Salzburg Mozart Festival, with Robert Levin playing Mozart’s own fortepiano in the Piano Concertos No. 15 and 26. The concerts are filmed and are broadcast on television internationally.
June: The AAM under Christopher Hogwood makes its debut at the Halle Handel Festival, performing Handel’s Joshua.
1998
The recording of Haydn’s opera Orfeo ed Euridice& receives the Premio Internazionale del Disco ‘Antonio Vivaldi’ (Highly Recommended).
The 25th anniversary of the AAM’s foundation is celebration with projects with each of the AAM’s three directors: Paul Goodwin conducts the premiere performance and recording of John Tavener’s Eternity’s Sunrise, the first work the AAM has commissioned from a living composer; Andrew Manze directs the AAM in the opening concert of the York Early Music Festival; Christopher Hogwood conducts an expanded AAM, joined by the Choir of New College Oxford, in a packed Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms.
September: Fourth tour to Brazil.
1999
The AAM gives performances of and records Handel’s first London opera, Rinaldo, with Christopher Hogwood and Cecilia Bartoli.
April: Official AAM 25th anniversary concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of Handel’s first concert in 1749 for the Foundling Hospital, directed by Christopher Hogwood, Andrew Manze and Paul Goodwin.
June: First recording (for EMI) with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. This recording of JS Bach’s Magnificat and other works is followed by recordings of Vivaldi’s Gloria and of Handel’s Coronation Anthems. It marks the start of an enduring relationship between these two Cambridge-based organisations.
July: First BBC Prom under Paul Goodwin, including Tavener’s Eternity’s Sunrise.
August: Historical recreation of Mendelssohn’s 1829 performance of JS Bach’s St Matthew Passion at the Ansbach Bach Festival under Christopher Hogwood.
November: The AAM Society is launched to encourage private support of the AAM.
2000
June: Premiere performance and recording of John Tavener’s Total Eclipse, a new work which has been written for the AAM.
July: First recording under Edward Higginbottom with the Choir of New College, Oxford.
November: Seventeen-concert tour of the US directed by Andrew Manze.
November: The AAM launches its first London season as Resident Period-Instrument Orchestra at St. John’s, Smith Square.
2001
February: AAM Music Director-to-be Richard Egarr records the complete Bach harpsichord concertos with the orchestra.
June: Tour of Japan and Korea performing Mozart’s last three symphonies.
The Decca recording of Handel’s Rinaldo wins a Gramophone Award.
2002
This year includes two major US tours: with Robert Levin and Christopher Hogwood in February and March; and with Andrew Manze in October.
March: The AAM works with the choir Polyphony under director Stephen Layton for the first time, in a performance of JS Bach’s St John Passion.
October:Launch of first season at the University of Cambridge, and the third London season.
November: The AAM makes its first visit to the Megaron in Athens, Greece, in a programme of Handel’s Chapel Royal Anthems conducted by Paul Goodwin.
The Decca recording of Handel’s Rinaldo wins a Cannes Classical Award at MIDEM.
2003
March and April: The AAM bids a fond farewell to Andrew Manze, its Associate Director of seven years, with a major tour of the USA.
October: The AAM launches its 30th anniversary season, with expanded London and Cambridge series featuring a wide variety of guest directors and soloists: violinists Giuliano Carmignola, Daniel Sepec and Pavlo Beznosiuk; harpsichordist Richard Egarr; the wind principals of the AAM; and a number of vocal soloists including Patricia Rozario in a special Tavener 60th birthday concert; all in addition to appearances by Director Christopher Hogwood and Associate Conductor Paul Goodwin.
November: the official 30th anniversary concert takes place in St. John’s, Smith Square, London, with a programme of Gade, Schumann, Weber and Mendelssohn conducted by Christopher Hogwood.
2004
The AAM is appointed as Orchestra-in-Residence at the University of Cambridge.
October: Renowned conductor and harpsichordist Masaaki Suzuki makes his UK debut with the AAM.
2005
September: The harpsichordist Richard Egarr takes up his appointment as Associate Director of the AAM.
2006
April: The AAM’s live recording from January 2005 at the Wigmore Hall of Handel, JS Bach and Vivaldi is released on the Wigmore Hall Live Label to critical acclaim.
April: The AAM’s long-term future is secured when it is announced that Richard Egarr will succeed Christopher Hogwood as Music Director from September 2006. Christopher Hogwood assumes the title of Emeritus Director.
August: The AAM performs in the inaugural BBC Proms Matinée series at London’s Cadogan Hall, directed by Richard Egarr.
2007
April: The AAM tours the United States under its new Music Director, Richard Egarr.
May: Emeritus Director Christopher Hogwood conducts Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula — the first in his series of three annual Handel opera productions leading up to the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death — at London’s Barbican Centre and at Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
June: AAM General Manager Christopher Lawrence leaves the orchestra after ten years at the helm. Peter Ansell joins the team as Chief Executive.
October: The AAM and Richard Egarr win the Gramophone Award for baroque instrumental music for their recording of Handel’s Concerti Grossi Op.3 — the first release in their Harmonia Mundi series of the complete Handel instrumental music Op.1–7.
2008
June: Hogwood conducts the second in the series of three Handel operas — Flavio
September: the AAM gives the UK premiere performances of works by Christopher Gibbons — the son of Orlando — which have been discovered by Richard Egarr in manuscripts at the Bodleian Library and at Christ Church, Oxford.
October: the AAM makes its Libyan debut, performing Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas at the Roman amphitheatre at Sabratha. It goes on to Beijing, where it makes its Chinese debut with two performances at the Beijing Music Festival. China Daily hails it as “one of the world’s great orchestras”, and the Choir of the AAM is awarded the Beijing Choir of the Year award for its performance of Handel’s Messiah.
2009
The AAM celebrates a year of anniversaries — the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death, the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth, and the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death — with a major programme of concerts and recordings.
April: the AAM makes history when its performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge becomes the first choral concert ever to be broadcast into cinemas. The performance reaches live cinema audiences in over 250 cities around the world, and is subsequently released on CD and DVD by EMI.
May: Hogwood conducts the final instalment in his triptych of Handel operas — Arianna in Creta.
June: AAM gives the setpiece performance of Messiah at the anniversary Handel Festival in the composer’s hometown, Halle.
October: the final instalment in the AAM’s cycle of Handel’s instrumental music Op.1–7 is released to critical acclaim.
2010
January: Michael Garvey, former General Manager of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, succeeds Peter Ansell as Chief Executive.
February: Richard Egarr plays his first Beethoven Piano Concerto with the AAM. He plays No.4 in Groningen, and conducts Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 ‘Pastoral’.
August: The AAMplify scheme is launched, placing a new generation of concertgoers, players and arts managers at the heart of the AAM’s work. Benefits include £3 tickets to AAM concerts in London and Cambridge.
September: The AAM launches The Bach Dynasty, a year-long concert series exploring the music of JS Bach and his lesser-known relatives.
November: The AAM is directed by leader Rodolfo Richter in a programme of music from and inspired by South America, which includes the first performance for centuries of several undiscovered works.
2011
February: The AAM gives what is thought to be the first performance of the complete Brandenburg Concertos in China, to a packed Shanghai Concert Hall.
March: The AAM enters another new phase of its history when it is announced that the orchestra will receive regular public funding in the UK for the first time. Arts Council England grants totalling over £500,000 will support the orchestra's development between 2012 and 2015.