Brandenburg Concertos — The English Concert led by Kristian Bezuidenhout

Founded in 1973 by harpsichordist and conductor Trevor Pinnock, *The English Concert* has become one of the most influential ensembles in historically informed performance of Baroque and Classical music. Inspired by the idea of reviving works with period instruments and styles, Pinnock brought together a group of like-minded musicians, creating an ensemble that quickly gained recognition for its fresh and insightful interpretations. The name "The English Concert" was suggested by Jordi Savall, Pinnock's colleague and friend.

Under Pinnock’s leadership, the ensemble launched an ambitious recording project, producing celebrated performances of works such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Handel's Messiah, and Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. These recordings, praised for their vitality and scholarly approach, played a crucial role in popularizing Baroque music and establishing *The English Concert* as a leading force in early music performance. The ensemble received two Gramophone Awards for its recordings of Corelli's Concerti Grossi and Haydn's Nelson Mass.

After Pinnock stepped down in 2003, violinist Andrew Manze took over as director, bringing a new perspective and expanding the ensemble’s repertoire. In 2007, harpsichordist Harry Bicket was appointed artistic director. Under his leadership, the ensemble broadened its focus to include opera and oratorio, particularly Handel's works. Bicket conducted acclaimed performances of numerous operas and oratorios by the composer, collaborating with renowned soloists such as Iestyn Davies, Lucy Crowe, Emily D’Angelo, Ian Bostridge, Sarah Connolly, and Elizabeth Watts. These collaborations were recorded for labels including EMI, Harmonia Mundi, and Linn Records, earning widespread critical acclaim.

Today, *The English Concert* continues to perform on major international stages and festivals, solidifying its reputation as one of the foremost ensembles dedicated to historically informed performance of Baroque and Classical music.

**KRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT**

Kristian Bezuidenhout has emerged as one of the most versatile and exciting musicians of his generation, both as a keyboardist—specializing in fortepiano, harpsichord, and modern piano—and as a growing conductor. Born in South Africa, he began his studies in Australia and completed them at the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY). He now resides in London. After training as a modern pianist with Rebecca Penneys, he specialized in historical keyboards, studying harpsichord with Arthur Haas, fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson, and continuo and performance practice with Paul O’Dette.

His international career began at age 21 when he won first prize and the audience prize at the Bruges Fortepiano Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for this instrument.

Bezuidenhout regularly performs as a soloist with leading ensembles and orchestras worldwide, including the Freiburger Barockorchester, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, Les Arts Florissants, Orchestre des Champs-Élysées, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He has collaborated with renowned conductors and soloists such as John Eliot Gardiner, Philippe Herreweghe, Frans Brüggen, Trevor Pinnock, Isabelle Faust, Rachel Podger, Anne Sofie von Otter, and Mark Padmore.

Alongside his solo career, his work as a conductor has led him to collaborate with leading period-instrument ensembles such as The English Concert, Tafelmusik, Collegium Vocale Gent, Juilliard 415, Kammerakademie Potsdam, and the Dunedin Consort, performing repertoire ranging from Purcell and Handel to Bach’s Passions. He currently serves as Principal Guest Director of The English Concert and the Freiburger Barockorchester.

His internationally awarded discography, primarily released on Harmonia Mundi, includes over 30 albums. Highlights include the complete keyboard works of Mozart (Diapason d’Or de l’Année, Caecilia Prize, Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik), Schubert’s *Die schöne Müllerin* with Julian Prégardien, Beethoven piano concertos, and an ongoing cycle of Mozart concertos with the Freiburger Barockorchester (ECHO Klassik). He has also recorded Bach’s violin sonatas with Isabelle Faust and Schumann’s *Dichterliebe* with Mark Padmore (Edison Award).

He was nominated Artist of the Year by *Gramophone* magazine in 2013. In 2024, he will release two new volumes of Mozart concertos.