Trevor Pinnock plans 60th birthday celebrations in Sheffield
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Trevor Pinnock has announced celebrations for his 60th birthday which will centre around The Six Brandenburg Concertos by J S Bach. Trevor has invited a select group of period instrument musicians from England, France, Germany Italy and Spain to form the European Brandenburg Ensemble, which will record the works and tour internationally over an 18-month period from July 2006 to December 2007. The City of Sheffield, whose representatives joined Trevor in London today to announce details of their new culture strategy, is a significant partner in Brandenburgs Revisited. They are joined in their support by the University of Sheffield, as well as numerous local and regional agencies and organisations which are providing vital support and facilities. The launch will take place during a four-day residency at the University of Sheffield which will encompass the musiciansí first rehearsals of the Brandenburgs together, lectures and discussions with leading Bach scholars, educational workshops, open rehearsals and meet-and-greet sessions with musicians.
Trevor Pinnock is widely known for his pioneering performances of baroque and
classical music. For thirty years he directed the English Concert, performing
worldwide and making many recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, including the classic 1981 recording of Bachís Brandenburg Concertos. This recording introduced a generation to mainstream repertoire on period instruments and was one of the best-selling instrumental classical recordings of the 20th century.
The European Brandenburg Ensemble (EBE) is made up of specialist players of different generations, nationalities and musical backgrounds. Leading players from such orchestras as the English Concert, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestra of Age of Enlightenment and Il Giardino Armonico will come together to celebrate Trevorís 60th birthday for a fresh examination of the challenges of Bachís Brandenburg Concertos.
Trevor Pinnock first visited Sheffield in 1985 for performances with the Sheffield Bach Society. Subsequently he appeared with Peter Cropper and members of the Lindsays at Music in the Round. He has continued to forge links with the Sheffield music community, giving a solo in 2004 at the University, from whom he received an honorary doctorate the following year. In January 2006, Trevor devoted five days to Music in the Round, their professional Ensemble 360 and school-age ensemble Highly Strung, that included performances, open rehearsals and educational workshops. He will return for two visits in 2007.
As the City of Sheffield prepared to unveil its new culture strategy the value of associating with Trevor Pinnockís international Brandenburg project became clear. With the support of the City and the University of Sheffield, Trevor and the EBE will first come together in the summer of 2006 at the University. Following the four-day residency, from 31 July ñ 3 August, the ensemble will return to celebrate Trevorís birthday on 16 December with a performance of The Six Brandenburg Concertos in Sheffield City Hallís Irwin Mitchell Oval Hall. The performances will be followed by a recording of the complete Brandenburgs for Avie Records. In the spring of 2007, Trevor and the EBE will embark on a tour of Asia and Europe.
This extensive project could not take place without the remarkable demonstration of the value of partnerships and the belief in cultural regeneration by the organisations who have provided their generous support: Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield, Hammerson, Sheffield International Venues, Sheffield First for Investment, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary and several Sheffield hotels including Macdonald St. Paulís, Sheffield Park, Cutlerís, Hilton, and Royal Victoria Holiday Inn.