BIOGRAPHIES

LE CONCERT DES NATIONS takes its inspiration from Les Nations, a work by François Couperin symbolizing the coming together of musical tastes and heralding a “European artistic space.” Le Concert des Nations, the youngest of the ensembles directed by Jordi Savall, was founded in 1989. Created during the preparation of the Canticum Beatae Virgine by Charpentier, this group arose out of the need for an ensemble of period instruments that could play the chamber and orchestral repertoire from the Baroque to the Romantic periods (1600–1850). Le Concert des Nations is the first orchestra of its kind made up chiefly (although not exclusively) of musicians from Latin countries (Spain, Latin America, Italy, Portugal, France, etc.), all of whom are outstanding specialists in performance using period instruments. The impact of the ensemble’s recordings and concerts given in the major cities and music festivals over the last 17 years has established its reputation as one of the best original instrument ensembles performing today with a broad and varied repertoire that ranges from the earliest music to be composed for orchestra (L’Orchestre de Louis XIII, 1600–1650) to the masterpieces of the Romantic period, including the key Baroque and Classical composers. Le Concert des Nations’s desire to increase audiences’ familiarity with a wide historical repertoire of exceptional quality through rigorous and, at the same time, revitalizing performances was apparent from their earliest recordings: Charpentier, J. S. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Handel, Marais, Arriaga, Beethoven, Purcell, and Dumanoir. The ensemble’s most recent productions include works by Lully, Biber, J. S. Bach and Vivaldi, released under Jordi Savall’s exclusive, award-winning record label, Alia Vox. The most recent recordings include Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ, Jordi Savall’s Lachrimai Caravaggio (his first recorded composition!), Ludi Musici, sprit of the dance, Francois Couperin’s Les Concert Royaux, andMozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

The Met called the series “Celebrating Jordi Savall,” and, amid the usual parade of famous, anonymous maestros, here, finally, was a man worth celebrating. Savall is not only a performer of genius but also a conductor, a scholar, a teacher, a concert impresario (he founded the Hespèrion XXI, Le Concert des Nations, and La Capella Reial de Catalunya ensembles, all of which accompanied him to New York), a record-label director (his is called Alia Vox), a minor film personality (he played on the soundtrack of the 1991 movie “Tous les Matins du Monde”), and the patriarch of a formidable musical family. – The New Yorker, May 2, 2005

The term ''early-music superstar'' is surely an oxymoron. But in the most understated of repertory, on the most subdued of instruments and in the most self-effacing way, Jordi Savall comes close to being one. – The New York Times, April 13, 2005

JORDI SAVALL is an exceptional figure in today’s music world. For more than thirty years he has been devoted to the rediscovery of neglected musical treasures: thirty years of research, study and interpretation, both as gambist and musical director. He has restored an essential repertoire to all those with ears to hear it. Beyond the happy few who already revered the instrument, he has created a wide audience for the viola da gamba, an instrument so refined that it takes us to the very brink of silence. Together with Montserrat Figueras, he has founded three ensembles: Hespèrion XX, La Capella Reial and Le Concert des Nations; together, they explore and create a world of beauty and emotion which reaches out to millions of music-lovers worldwide and has established them as the leading exponents of so many neglected musical gems.

One of the most multifariously gifted musicians of his generation, Jordi Savall’s career as a concert performer, teacher, researcher and creator of new projects, both musical and cultural, make him one of the principal architects of the current re-evaluation of historical music. The pivotal part he played in Alain Corneau’s film Tous les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World), which won a César award for the Best Soundtrack, his intense concert activity (140 concerts per year), recording projects (six per year), and more recently the creation of his own record label (Alia Vox) is proof that early music does not have to be elitist or of interest to only to a minority, and that it can and indeed does appeal to an increasingly large and young audience.

Like many other musicians, Jordi Savall began his musical training at a young age as a member of the boys’ choir of Igualada (Barcelona), the town where he was born, and later studied the cello at the Barcelona Conservatoire, from which he graduated in 1964. In 1965, he began to teach himself the viola da gamba as well as studying ancient music (Ars Musicae). In 1968 he began his specialist musical training at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, where in 1973 he succeeded his own master, August Wenzinger, and continues to give courses and masterclasses.

Jordi Savall has recorded over 160 CDs, winning numerous awards and distinctions including “Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (1988) from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication; the “Sant Jordi Cross” (1990) awarded by the Generalitat (Autonomous Government) of Catalonia; “Musician of the Year” (1992), awarded by Le Monde de la Musique; “Soloist of the Year” (1993) awarded by Victoires de la Musique; the “Gold Medal for Fine Arts” (1998) from the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the Arts; Honorary Member of the Konzerthaus, Vienna (1999); Doctor honoris causa of the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium (2000); “Victoire de la Musique” in recognition of his professional achievements (2002); the Gold Medal of the Parliament of Catalonia (2003); and the German “Preise der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik” (2003).

Listen
     Couperin (F) Pieces De Clavecin Book 3 - Prelude
     Couperin (F) Pieces De Clavecin Book 3 - Chaconne Lighre

Read the Program and Program Notes