Born in fontmell magna, dorset, gardiner s early musical experience came largely through singing with his family and in a local church choir. For a musiclover equipped with a time machine, one of the first destinations would have to be the city of leipzig in the 1720s. Monteverdi choir english baroque soloists john eliot gardiner. His performances of bach s cantatas, passions and motets are of. His workas founder and artistic director of the monteverdi choir, english baroque soloists, and orchestre revolutionnaire et romantiquehas made him a key figure of the earlymusic revival. Music in the castle of heaven, a biography so thoughtful, well. Music in the castle of heaven 1st edition by gardiner, john eliot isbn. And in this extraordinary journey, led by sir john eliot gardiner, is going to be a companion for many years to come. A deeply felt history of the world and work of bach. Sir john eliot gardiner and gwyneth wentick monteverdi tuscany. John eliot gardiner was born on april 20, 1943 in dorset, england.
Some of his detailed analysis will leave behind his general readers but will surely animate musicians and musicologists. Music in the castle of heaven, by john eliot gardiner. He formed the the monteverdi choir in 1964 and 4 years later the monteverdi orchestra, with whose members he founded the english baroque soloists in 1978. Music in the castle of heaven by john eliot gardiner. Gardiner is the dean of the college of bach choral. John eliot gardiner has given the early music world many fine periodinstrument recordings. John eliot gardiner discusses his monumental bach biography. His performances of bach s cantatas, passions and motets are of historic importance, combining scholarly insight with. Oct 27, 20 l overs of bach have many reasons to be grateful to sir john eliot gardiner. Bachs ascension oratorio sir john eliot gardiner, 20 sir john eliot gardiner conductor hannah morrison soprano, proms debut artist meg bragle mezzosoprano, proms debut artist nicholas. Sir john eliot gardiner s complete recordings of the bach sacred cantatas, made live in their pilgrimage year, are one of the top recommendations, alongside masaaki suzukis set for bis, and his recording of the brandenburg concertos is also a prime consideration sdg707. The 2015 release of johann sebastian bach s mass in b minor performed by the english baroque soloists and the monteverdi choir, conducted by john eliot gardiner. Sir john eliot gardiner is one of the worlds leading conductors, not only of baroque music but. His monteverdi choir, english baroque soloists and stupidly named orchestre revolutionnaire et romantique have notched up one triumph.
Sir john eliot gardiner, cbe honfba born 20 april 1943 is an english conductor, particularly known for his performances of the works of johann sebastian bach and of other baroque music. Sep 19, 2014 sir john eliot gardiner on bach, cambridge and the prince of wales conductor sir john eliot gardiner talks about reading history at cambridge, living in lebanon and how he keeps fit. Its repertoire comprises music from the early baroque period to the classical period. It has taken many years of searching, but i am pleased to say, this recording of the english baroque soloists conduced by john eliot gardiner is it. To kirk mcelhearn there was a 16 page special in the guardian g2 section about bach yesterday, including an interesting article by prof. Dec 04, 20 not to proclaim that an authors first book will necessarily stand as his magnum opus, but it is hard to imagine what the english maestro john eliot gardiner, 70, might do to surpass bach. John eliot gardiner born 20 april 1943, fontmell magna, dorset, england is an english conductor, most famous for his interpretations of baroque music on period instruments. Bach bibliography, several being associated with its author, sir john eliot gardiner. He was one of the heroes of the baroque revolution. They are not always to my liking i prefer the more muscular nikolaus harnoncourt, the more poetic jordi savall, or the more exciting il giardino armonico but this disc of bachs motets is quite beautiful. John eliot gardiner monteverdi choir and orchestra.
Information about the group, english baroque soloists, and orchestre revolutionnaire et romantique, founded by sir john eliot gardiner. Vespro della beata vergine palace of versailles, 2014. Sir john eliot gardiner has created his own work of art. This book is not a biography in the conventional sense. He is known for his work on the wolf of wall street 20, the triplets of belleville 2003 and berlioz. A passionate life a documentary written and presented. Bach rameau handel chapelle royale, versailles, 2014 duration. Sue lawleys castaway is conductor john eliot gardiner. Gardiner s study of beethovens original manuscripts reveals the rhythmic vigor, novel harmonies, and pure joy of the symphony no. October 29, 20 in his new book, conductor john eliot gardiner searches for clues to uncover what the great composers life and personality were. Esther brazil, soprano hannah morrison, soprano katie bray, alto kate symondsjoy, alto peter davoren, tenor nick pritchard, tenor alex ashworth, bass david shipley, bass. Sir john eliot gardiner is one of the worlds leading conductors, not only of baroque music but across the whole repertoire. A portrait of johann sebastian bach by john eliot gardiner allen lane, 629pp, telegraph offer price.
Sir john eliot gardiner conductor download page 1 of. His work as artistic director of his monteverdi choir, english baroque soloists and orchestre. Sir john eliot gardiner on beethoven symphonies carnegie. Dec 23, 20 and yet, as the esteemed english conductor john eliot gardiner writes in this exhaustive study the summation of a lifetimes absorption in the baroque masters religious music bach may. Music in the castle of heaven is a unique and vitally important biography by one of the greatest musical geniuses of our age.
George frideric handel, john eliot gardiner, academy of st. In fact, in many ways it is the most completely satisfying messiah ever released. Janine documentary janine jansen 2010 paul cohen duration. Bachs st john passion was conceived not just as a work of religious art but as an act of worship in itself says sir john eliot gardiner. John eliot gardiner discusses his monumental bach biography gardiner is the first to admit that reading a book about bach s life and times, even one with an insiders.
Music in the castle of heaven gardiner, john eliot on. Sir john eliot gardiner s triumphant period instrument version can be confidently mentioned in the same breath with any of the great messiah recordings of the past. Amanda foreman, author of a world on fire a superb achievement, scholarly, lively, controversial and judicious. In 2019 gardiner conducted new productions of handels semele and. As an undergraduate student at cambridge university, he toured the middle. Bach, gardiner s book, music in the castle of heaven. Bach mass in b minor john eliot gardiner 2015 youtube. Recorded live on june 22, 2014 during the versailles festival at the palace of versailles. Music in the castle of heaven is an important addition to the j. Sir john eliot gardiner returns to bachs b minor mass. Sir john eliot gardiner at the versailles chapelle royale. Gardiner is the dean of the college of bach choral specialists, a college containing names like joshua rifkin. Music in the castle of heaven in its commitment, scope and comprehensivenessin his thoroughgoing discussions of bach s music, mr. A supreme bach interpreter brings a lifetimes experience to one of bach s greatest sacred masterpieces in this good friday performance.
Concert sir john eliot gardiner conducts monteverdis. Sir john eliot gardiner musician music database radio. Bach s st john passion was conceived not just as a work of religious art but as an act of worship in itself says sir john eliot gardiner. Sir john eliot gardiner on bach, cambridge and the prince of. Using the reduced performing forces and older instruments that are common to almost every messiah recording of the last couple of decades. Many years ago, i read christoph wolffs masterful bach. English baroque soloists monteverdi choir sir john eliot gardiner solisten.
Haendel, dixit dominus bach, christ lag in todesbanden. Martin in the fields, franz schubert, karl bohm, wiener philharmoniker, philharmonia hungarica. Sir john eliot gardiner revisits the st matthew passion. Terry waite sir john eliot gardiner undertook the bach cantata pilgrimage in 2000 amid a blaze of publicity. Sergius of radonezh with the saints of rostov adorns the cover of a new album of russian orthodox church music by the vocal ensemble conspirare. Jul 11, 2017 it never happens often enough, but now and then, a subject gets the book it deserves. At the peak of a career devoted to studying, contemplating and performing bach, his interpretations share that same, overwhelming conviction.
Bach is portrayed displaying an extremely complex piece of contrapuntal writing. On january 1, 2014, sir john eliot gardiner will become president of the bach archive foundation. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Conductor sir john eliot gardiner talks to tom service about his book on bach. Conducted by sir john eliot gardiner, the english baroque soloists and monteverdi choir perform bach and handel. Sir john eliot gardiner is revered as one of the worlds most innovative and dynamic musicians, constantly in the vanguard of enlightened interpretation and standing as a leader in contemporary musical life. Taking the bach cantatas as a basis for a yearlong pilgrimage in 2000, conductor sir john eliot gardiner led the monteverdi choir and english baroque soloists on an emotional and artistically triumphant world tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composers death. Matthew passion, the motets and the mass in b minor. Bbc radio 3 music matters, sir john eliot gardiner. Gardiner takes us through the major types of worksthe cantatas including some interesting passages about the coffee cantata, the st. John butt and an interview with sir john eliot gardiner under the heading sir john s passion. Sir john eliot gardiner to conduct monteverdi choir in bach.
A monteverdi master returns to his roots with a rare. Sir john eliot gardiner curates carnegie hall perspectives series featuring his. Now i have just completed another fascinating study of bachs life. Jan 18, 2016 sir john eliot gardiner returns to bach s b minor mass lindsay kemp monday, january 18, 2016. Sir john eliot gardiners landmark recording of the st matthew passion with his monteverdi choir and english baroque soloists in the late 1980s is still widely regarded as one of the most revelatory accounts of the work on disc for its tautness, dramatic energy and innate underlying understanding of the works imposing architecture. Sir john eliot gardinersir john eliot gardiner curates.
Music in the castle of heaven by sir john eliot gardiner. Sir john eliot gardiner amazed the world with his bachpilgrimage 2000 and hit the top 10 of nonfiction with his biography 20. Sir john eliot gardiner stands as an international leader in todays musical life, respected as one of the worlds most innovative and dynamic musicians, constantly at the forefront of enlightened interpretation. Sir john eliot gardiner is revered as one of the worlds most innovative and dynamic musicians, and as a leader in the contemporary musical world. For those interested in learning more about bach the man through his music, i warmly recommend sir john eliot gardiners new biography entitled, bach. John eliot gardiner conducts the monteverdi choir and english baroque. Bach and handel gardiner, english baroque soloists and. A portrait of johann sebastian bach, was published in october 20 by allen lane, leading to the prix des muses award singerpolignac. Music in the castle of heaven john eliot gardiner 672 pages isbn. Sir john eliot gardiner on beethoven symphonies carnegie hall. Anyone interested in bach and his cantatas will not be able to get around this book. Music in the castle of heaven and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle.
Thirty years after his first recording, gardiner returns to this towering summit of western music with the same forces as before. Apparently, jegs father owned the 1748 hausmann portrait of bach until. The final recording of gardiner s bach cantata pilgrimage is released. This movement began in holland and germany at the end of the seventies. Master conductor sir john eliot gardiner on bach on point. Sir john eliot gardiner leads a ninehour bach marathon at the royal albert hall. Sir john eliot gardiner conducts bach rameau handel. New recording is exceptional in its clarity, the summation of john eliot gardiner s experience of the music. Financial times, mar17 album of the week having issued the church cantatas for his sdg label, gardiner has embarked on remakes of bach s great liturgical works. Sir john eliot gardiner dirige trois oeuvres baroques a versailles. Not to proclaim that an authors first book will necessarily stand as his magnum opus, but it is hard to imagine what the english maestro john eliot gardiner, 70, might do to surpass bach. A portrait of johann sebastian bach, was published in october 20 by allen. Bach weekend with sir john eliot gardiner barbican.
Aug 23, 2014 tom service interviews one of the most influential musicians of our time the conductor sir john eliot gardiner. The home of the monteverdi choir, english baroque soloists. Among numerous awards in recognition of his work, sir john eliot gardiner holds several honorary doctorates. April 20, 1943 fontmell, dorset, england the oustanding english conductor, john eliot gardiner, first took up the baton at the age of fifteen. Bach, gardiners book, music in the castle of heaven. Vespro della beata vergine at the palace of versailles from 2014. Bbc radio 4 desert island discs, john eliot gardiner. Gardiner is, of course, the famed british conductor who specializes in historically informed performances of early music. Sir john eliot gardiner, who conducts the monteverdi choir and english baroque solists in a concert of bach and handel works sponsored by princeton benefactor william h. The english chief was the student and also the heir of nadia boulanger.
Oct 03, 20 john eliot gardiner takes us as deeply into bachs works and mind as perhaps words can. Sir john eliot gardiner to conduct monteverdi choir in. In 2000 john eliot gardiner commemorated the 250th anniversary of bach s death with thebach cantata pilgrimage, a yearlong european tour by the english baroque soloists and monteverdi choir. Still a book about bach, the musician of the musicians, the boss. The result is a unique book about one of the greatest of all creative artists. Each suite in turn is treated fairly and without compromise. He formed the the monteverdi choir in 1964 and 4 years later the monteverdi. This is true both historically and for the eminent and versatile english conductor john eliot gardiner. Now i have just completed another fascinating study of bach s life.
Bach cantata bwv 198 trauerode funeral ode john eliot gardiner the monteverdi choir the bach family part ii. Music in the castle of heaven in its commitment, scope and comprehensivenessin his thoroughgoing discussions of bachs music, mr. Sir john eliot gardiner is talented almost beyond measure. John eliot gardiner uses his extraordinary immersion in bach s music to illuminate bach the man more brilliantly than in any previous work, and has created his own deeply moving work of art. There is a famous painting of bach by elias gottlob haussmann which graces the front cover of christoph wolffs recent biography. In his new book on bach, music in the castle of heaven, sir john eliot offers a. The english baroque soloists is a chamber orchestra playing on period instruments, formed in 1978 by english conductor sir john eliot gardiner. He first conducted at the age of 15, and after finishing. Dec 03, 20 sir john eliot gardiner conducts bach rameau handel duration. It is a portrait of a master at the height of his craft selfconfident, even a bit arrogant. L overs of bach have many reasons to be grateful to sir john eliot gardiner. The orchestras period instruments accentuate the color of beethovens scoring and novel touchessuch as the use of harp. Bach s music has always been part of my life in good times and bad. John eliot gardiner is one of the leading conductors in the active authentic performances movement in england, performing baroque music but also extending his range into later repertoire.
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