Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music

[Coopmv]

I have been following and listening to the recordings by Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music since my college days in the late 70's.  That musical association has produced some of the most memorable and endearing listening experience via the various releases on the L'oiseau Lyre label, which has recently been resurrected.  I missed those golden years of that ensemble.  These days, the ensemble is very different as Hogwood has been long gone, as are key violinists like Monica Hugget and Catherine MacKintosh.  And who can forget the vocal trio of Emma Kirkby, Judith Nelson and Carolyn Watkinson.  While I was fortunate enough to see Trevor Pinnock with the English Concert and John Eliot Gardiner with the English Baroque Soloists/Monteverdi Choir in concerts, I did not have that opportunity with Hogwood/AAM, not sure if the ensemble ever had ever given concert in the NY area.  I have, however, recorded an all Bach concert given by the ensemble at the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress off the local NPR station in the mid 80's.  I just digitized the open-reel tape.  The concert is now on my hard-drive.  The 1 1/2 hour concert took up 1.5 GB.  At any rate, the fond memories live on via the following CD's and DVD.





If you are into early music like I do, maybe you will be interested in sharing some of your expereince with this great ensemble.  If you live in the UK, you might even have attended a few of their concerts.

[Harry]

My first Messiah was the recording with Hogwood. My life long love affair with Emma Kirkby began in those days. When I attended a concert in the place where I live I met Emma, and we talk after the concert about music and life in general, and every concert afterwards we repeated this to our mutual pleasure. A captivating and friendly woman, full of energy and passion for music, and many other things.

[Coopmv]

My first Messiah was the recording with Hogwood. My life long love affair with Emma Kirkby began in those days. When I attended a concert in the place where I live I met Emma, and we talk after the concert about music and life in general, and every concert afterwards we repeated this to our mutual pleasure. A captivating and friendly woman, full of energy and passion for music, and many other things.

Emma Kirkby has been the foremost soprano for Handel's oratorios and cantatas for 30 years.  Her voice is absolutely beautiful and flawless.  It is interesting to know that she was actually a school teacher before she started her career of singing/performing early music.  That Handel's Italian Cantatas CD recorded with Hogwood and the AAM has set the gold standard for that work ...

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Kirkby-Emma.htm

[Jay F]

Hogwood's were my first favorite Mozart Symphonies, and in truth, though I may not play them as much as I used to, I've never found a set of the last six I like better. Bohm's aren't bad, but I've never found the CDs to sound as good as the LPs, and it's hard to find even pristine-looking LPs that don't have surface noise (whereas nice, quiet Bohm Beethoven Symphonies are a dime a dozen--well, maybe a dollar a dozen). Long story short, when I want to hear Mozart's symphonies, I head for Hogwood. I like all of his Mozart better except for the PCs, on which I prefer a modern piano.

[Coopmv]

Hogwood's were my first favorite Mozart Symphonies, and in truth, though I may not play them as much as I used to, I've never found a set of the last six I like better. Bohm's aren't bad, but I've never found the CDs to sound as good as the LPs, and it's hard to find even pristine-looking LPs that don't have surface noise (whereas nice, quiet Bohm Beethoven Symphonies are a dime a dozen--well, maybe a dollar a dozen). Long story short, when I want to hear Mozart's symphonies, I head for Hogwood. I like all of his Mozart better except for the PCs, on which I prefer a modern piano.

I really like the performance of Mozart Symphony No. 40 by Hogwood and the AAM.  That CD is my all-time favorite for the work.  I have a number of Mozart symphonies on the Barclay-Crocker open-reel tapes by Hogwood and the AAM as well.

[Jay F]

I really like the performance of Mozart Symphony No. 40 by Hogwood and the AAM.  That CD is my all-time favorite for the work.  I have a number of Mozart symphonies on the Barclay-Crocker open-reel tapes by Hogwood and the AAM as well.

The last volume of the Hogwood Mozart LPs sounds really good, even though it is digital.

[Coopmv]

The last volume of the Hogwood Mozart LPs sounds really good, even though it is digital.

I actually have quite a few LP's by Hogwood and the AAM on the L'oiseau Lyre
label.  There are the usual overlaps between the LP's and the CD's such as the Handel Messiah from which I have always required the pristine sound, i.e. pops and clicks are unacceptable.  Did you own a few of these L'oiseau Lyre
LP's too?

[Gurn Blanston]

I actually have quite a few LP's by Hogwood and the AAM on the L'oiseau Lyre
label.  There are the usual overlaps between the LP's and the CD's such as the Handel Messiah from which I have always required the pristine sound, i.e. pops and clicks are unacceptable.  Did you own a few of these L'oiseau Lyre
LP's too?

I have both the 19 disk set of Mozart and the 5 disk set of Beethoven by those forces. Even at $150, that Mozart set was one of my best investments ever. Everything about them from performance to liner notes to sound quality is first rate.



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Listening to:  Weber Op 49 Sonata #3 in d 1st mvmt - Allegro feroce

[Coopmv]

I have both the 19 disk set of Mozart and the 5 disk set of Beethoven by those forces. Even at $150, that Mozart set was one of my best investments ever. Everything about them from performance to liner notes to sound quality is first rate.

I regret I did not buy more of those Mozart Symphonies by Hogwood/AAM on the Barclay-Crocker open-reel tapes.  The SQ is quite awesome.

[Sorin Eushayson]

Hogwood's set of the Mozart symphonies is legendary, though from what I've heard of it I think I may prefer Pinnock's.  His work with Messiah is also superlative (I'll hold my tongue on Kirby).  I do find that sometimes he has a propensity for lameness; try to avoid these...





However, if you can find this, buy it!

[Bogey]

Emma Kirkby has been the foremost soprano for Handel's oratorios and cantatas for 30 years.  Her voice is absolutely beautiful and flawless. 

Well said, Stuart.  Heck, I can remember when Harry had her as his avatar....which I miss seeing daily.

[Gurn Blanston]

Hogwood's set of the Mozart symphonies is legendary, though from what I've heard of it I think I may prefer Pinnock's.  His work with Messiah is also superlative (I'll hold my tongue on Kirby).  I do find that sometimes he has a propensity for lameness; try to avoid these...

Actually, I greatly enjoy the Beethoven symphony set. It has a ruggedness to it which exemplifies my concept of what period performance ought to have. If it wasn't for the major quibble I have with them over the tempo of the Turkish section of the "Ode to Joy"... 




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Listening to:
The Young Beethoven - Igor Kipnis -  LvB Sonata #8 in c 3rd mvmt - Rondo: Allegro

[Coopmv]

Actually, I greatly enjoy the Beethoven symphony set. It has a ruggedness to it which exemplifies my concept of what period performance ought to have. If it wasn't for the major quibble I have with them over the tempo of the Turkish section of the "Ode to Joy"... 

I have the Hogwood's Beethoven Symphonies set as well.  For the 9th, I thought the late Arleen Auger was superb in her soprano role, though the orchestra seemed to be in a bit of disarray in its tempi ...

[Sorin Eushayson]

Actually, I greatly enjoy the Beethoven symphony set. It has a ruggedness to it which exemplifies my concept of what period performance ought to have. If it wasn't for the major quibble I have with them over the tempo of the Turkish section of the "Ode to Joy"... 

It seemed a bit mechanical to me; I know I've said this before, but it sounded like he fed the scores into a music machine and out popped this cycle! 

The tempo in the 9th was certainly a let down, much like Norrington's LCP set.  Spering and Gardiner both have better versions of that available.

[Gurn Blanston]

It seemed a bit mechanical to me; I know I've said this before, but it sounded like he fed the scores into a music machine and out popped this cycle! 

It is a mystery to me how you can find it mechanical, and Coopmv can find it to be "a bit in disarray in its tempi..." 

I found it be be neither, but as I say, the only adjective I can come up with is rugged (not ragged!) because it sounds just a bit heavier than I expected it to sound, rather than light and fleeting like period instruments often are. In any case, I like it a lot, and more with repeated listening.

The tempo in the 9th was certainly a let down, much like Norrington's LCP set.  Spering and Gardiner both have better versions of that available.

Yes, IMO that's exactly where Hogwood got that idea from. And since Norrington recanted that bizarre notion later on, I guess we know that the Gurnatron 5500^TM was right all along...

I have the Hogwood's Beethoven Symphonies set as well.  For the 9th, I thought the late Arleen Auger was superb in her soprano role, though the orchestra seemed to be in a bit of disarray in its tempi ...

Yes, Auger was splendid in that role. She overshadows the tempo fiasco (see above) for me.



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Listening to:
The Young Beethoven - Igor Kipnis -  LvB Op 34 6 Variations in F on an Original Theme pt 5 - Var. 4: Tempo di menuetto

[Sorin Eushayson]

...I guess we know that the Gurnatron 5500^TM was right all along...

The 5500's out already?!  I just got my hands on the 5400...    What does the 5500 say about Immerseel's work with the 9th?  Tempi in the march seemed about right to my ears, but he seemed a touch off pace through the instrumentals.

[Gurn Blanston]

The 5500's out already?!  I just got my hands on the 5400...    What does the 5500 say about Immerseel's work with the 9th?  Tempi in the march seemed about right to my ears, but he seemed a touch off pace through the instrumentals.

DOES NOT COMPUTE: That particular piece is the only period instrument version that has not been digitized and fed into the 5500' memory banks at this time.



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Listening to:
The Young Beethoven - Igor Kipnis - LvB Op 27 #2 Sonata #14 in c# 2nd mvmt - Allegretto

[Jay F]

I actually have quite a few LP's by Hogwood and the AAM on the L'oiseau Lyre
label.  There are the usual overlaps between the LP's and the CD's such as the Handel Messiah from which I have always required the pristine sound, i.e. pops and clicks are unacceptable.  Did you own a few of these L'oiseau Lyre
LP's too?

I had the whole Mozart Symphonies series, but sold them ten years ago. I've gone back and forth between records and CDs in this zero-sum game in which I must listen to CDs or LPs, but not both. It's part of my OCD, I guess.

[Coopmv]

This is one of my all-time favorite recordings by Hogwood and the AAM.  In the work titled "Anthem for Foundling Hospital", the duet sung by Emma Kirkby and Judith Nelson is the best I have ever heard in the English language.

[Sorin Eushayson]

This is one of my all-time favorite recordings by Hogwood and the AAM.  In the work titled "Anthem for Foundling Hospital", the duet sung by Emma Kirkby and Judith Nelson is the best I have ever heard in the English language.

Er, isn't that Simon Preston conducting...? 

I have that recording too, in the set coupled with the Utrecth Te Deum & Jubilate and Alceste; wonderful music.