I Fagiolini
Encyclopedia
I Fagiolini is a British vocal ensemble specialising in early music
and contemporary music. Founded by Robert Hollingworth at Oxford
in 1986, the group won the UK Early Music Network’s Young Artists’ Competition in 1988 and a Royal Philharmonic Society
Award in 2006. It has an international reputation for presenting music in unusual ways, especially for featuring in John La Bouchardière
's production and film The Full Monteverdi
, worldwide. I Fagiolini has recorded some 15 CDs, mostly for Chandos Records
, as well as a DVD of Orazio Vecchi
's L'Amfiparnaso with Simon Callow
.
The group has just recorded the recently-found Striggio 40-part mass
(1566), released in March 2011. The CD won the Early Music category in the 2011 Gramophone Awards and a Diapason D'Or de L'Année.
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
and contemporary music. Founded by Robert Hollingworth at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1986, the group won the UK Early Music Network’s Young Artists’ Competition in 1988 and a Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
Award in 2006. It has an international reputation for presenting music in unusual ways, especially for featuring in John La Bouchardière
John La Bouchardière
John La Bouchardière BMus MA is a British opera, film and television director.He was a chorister at Magdalen College, Oxford, studied at the University of Birmingham and was a staff director at English National Opera...
's production and film The Full Monteverdi
The Full Monteverdi (film)
The Full Monteverdi is a British film , written and directed by John La Bouchardière and based on his live production of the same name, itself based on Claudio Monteverdi's fourth book of madrigals which, in turn, is a collection of settings of poems by such Italian renaissance poets as Giovanni...
, worldwide. I Fagiolini has recorded some 15 CDs, mostly for Chandos Records
Chandos Records
Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :...
, as well as a DVD of Orazio Vecchi
Orazio Vecchi
Orazio Vecchi was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance. He is most famous for his madrigal comedies, particularly L'Amfiparnaso.- Life :...
's L'Amfiparnaso with Simon Callow
Simon Callow
Simon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
.
The group has just recorded the recently-found Striggio 40-part mass
Missa sopra Ecco sì beato giorno
The Missa sopra Ecco sì beato giorno is a musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass, for 40 and 60 voices, by Florentine Renaissance composer Alessandro Striggio. It probably dates from 1565–6, during the reign of his employer Cosimo I de' Medici. Lost for more than 400 years, it was recently...
(1566), released in March 2011. The CD won the Early Music category in the 2011 Gramophone Awards and a Diapason D'Or de L'Année.
Frequent guests
- Barokksolistene - Period instruments
- David Miller - LuteLuteLute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
- Catherine Pierron - HarpsichordHarpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
- Eligio Quinteiro - LuteLuteLute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
- Joy Smith HarpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
Recent recordings
- Striggio: 40 Part Mass (2011) - CD+DVD Decca DECCA 478 2734
- Claudio Monteverdi: Sweet Torment (2009) - CD Chandos CHAN 0760
- Claudio Monteverdi: Fire & Ashes (2008) - CD Chandos CHAN 0749
- Claudio Monteverdi: The Full MonteverdiThe Full Monteverdi (film)The Full Monteverdi is a British film , written and directed by John La Bouchardière and based on his live production of the same name, itself based on Claudio Monteverdi's fourth book of madrigals which, in turn, is a collection of settings of poems by such Italian renaissance poets as Giovanni...
(2007) - DVD Naxos 2.110224 - Claudio Monteverdi: Flaming Heart (2006) - CD Chandos CHAN 0730
- Orazio Vecchi: L'Amfiparnaso (2004) - DVD Chandos CHDVD 5029
Prizes & Awards
- Diapason D'Or de L'Année 2011 for Striggio Mass in 40 Parts
- Gramophone Early Music Award 2011 for Striggio Mass in 40 Parts
- Choc du Monde de la Musique for The Full MonteverdiThe Full Monteverdi (film)The Full Monteverdi is a British film , written and directed by John La Bouchardière and based on his live production of the same name, itself based on Claudio Monteverdi's fourth book of madrigals which, in turn, is a collection of settings of poems by such Italian renaissance poets as Giovanni...
(2008) - Royal Philharmonic SocietyRoyal Philharmonic SocietyThe Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers and performers have taken part in its concerts...
Ensemble of the year (2006) - UK Early Music Network’s Young Artists’ Competition (1988)