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In the course of more than 30 years since it was founded, the Collegium Vocale of Ghent (or Gent) (= CVG) has established a truly worldwide reputation in the field of classical music. This is clearly no mere chance occurence but is the fruit of years of consistent and methodical effort and artistic vision.
Founded in 1970 at the initiative of Philippe Herreweghe, this group of singers was the first in the 1970’s to extend the new principles of style for the performance of baroque music to vocal music. Instrumentalists had allready been searching for a number of years for a performing style more in the line with the historical context. To this end, they referred back to original source material, which they subjected to detailed study, and made use of authentic period instruments.
Consequently, it is not surprising that musicians such as Gustav Leonhardt, Ton Koopman and Nikolaus Harnoncourt soon expressed an interest in the parallel approach which the Flemish group had adopted in the field of vocal music. This resulted in an intense cooperation, both on stage and in recordings. Philippe Herreweghe has allways been conscious of the value of such a cooperation and because of that the group still works regularly with different conductors (Sigiswald Kuijken, Paul Van Nevel, René Jacobs…) and different orchestras such as La Petite Bande, the Concertgebouw Orchestra or the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The repertoire of Collegium Vocale can not be trapped within one style period. The ensemble made an inportant contribution concerning the rediscovery of polyphonic renaissance music. Regularly the classical and romantic repertoire is programmed, and every now and then the ensemble performes contemporary music. However the ensemble is and remains most known for its outstanding performances of German Baroque music, in particular the music of J.S. Bach.
Throughout the years Collegium Vocale has made a wide collection of recordings. A capella, together with the Orchestre des Champs Elysées, the choir of La Chapelle Royale from Paris or with other vocal and instrumental ensembles, more than sixty recordings were realized for the labels Harmonia Mundi France, Virgin Classics, Accent, Ricercar and Telefunken. Apart from that Collegium Vocale is a regular guest at all major music festivals throughout Europe. The ensemble visited the USA, South America and Israel, and and made a tour of Japan in 1998.
Since 1993 the Collegium Vocale was appointed "Cultural Ambassador of Flanders" by the Flemish Government. The ensemble is also supported by the Province of East Flanders. |
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Violins: Robert Anneda, Caroline Bayet, Marieke Bouche, Christine Busch [Leader], Adrian Chamorro, Daniel Deuter, Florian Deuter [Leader], Robert Diggens, Mira Glodeanu [Leader], Joanna Huszcza, Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch [Leader], Thérèse Kipfer, Mario Konaka, Michyio Kondo, Paulien Kostenze, Paul Lindenauer, Baptiste Lopez, Corrado Masoni, Dietlind Mayer, Alessandro Moccia, Diane Moore, Martha Moore, Attilio Motzo, Bénédicte Pernet, Andreas Preuss, Veronica Schepping Maia Silberstein
Violas: Pieter Van Boxelaere, Paul De Clerck, Kaat De Cock, Nadine Davin, Andreas Gerhardus, Hiltrud Hampe, Martin Kelly, Catherine Puig, Maria Roca, Wendy Ruymen, Jean-Luc Thonnerieux, Udbhava Wilson-Meyer
Viola d'amore:
Violoncellos: Harm-Jan Schwitters, Ageet Zweistra, Tom De Vaere
Viola da gamba: Romina Lischka, Philippe Pierlot
Violones: Miriam Shalinsky
Double-basses: Jonathan Cable, Miriam Shalinsky
Lutes: Wim Maeseele, Matthias Spaeter
Recorders: Bart Coen, Lambert Colson, Koen Dieltiens, Stefanie Troffaes, Marleen Vertommen
Transverse Flutes: Jan Van den Borre, Patrick Beuckels, Marion Hofmockel, Frank Theuns, Stefanie Troffaes, Jan De Winne
Oboes/Oboes d'amore: Frank de Bruine, Taka Kitazato, Anne Van Lancker, Timothée Oudinot, Marcel Ponseele
Oboe da caccia:
Bassoons: Marilyn Boenau, Margaret Bongers, Julien Debordes, Philippe Miqueu
Horns:
Trumpets: Leif Bengtsson, Stephen Keavy, Per Olof Lindeke, William O'Sullivan, Robert Vanr, Maarten Van Weverwijk, Susan Williams
Tromba da tirarsi: Alain De Budder
Corno da tirarsi: Alain De Budder
Cornetts: Lambert Colson
Trombones:
Timpani: Benedict Hoffnung, Francoise Rivalland
Organ: Maude Gratton, Herman Stinders
Harpsichord: |
