Dunedin Consort
Founded in 1996 by Susan Hamilton and Ben Parry, the Dunedin Consort was soon hailed by the critics as "a group that has done so much to transform the vocal life of Scotland". The dynamic ensemble has rapidly established its presence in the artistic life of its home country, appearing in venues throughout Scotland, from remote Highland churches to major concert halls. It has performed a diverse repertoire that ranges from Medieval and Renaissance music to contemporary works such as Stockhausen's Stimmung, together with a range of commissions from composers both in Scotland and beyond. Since Ben Parry's departure in late 2003, John Butt has joined Susan Hamilton as co-artistic director and is now musical director of all the larger projects. With John Butt's particular expertise in Baroque music and performance practice, the group has consolidated its existing strength in the Baroque repertoire, together with developing the Dunedin Players as an ensemble dedicated to performance with historical instruments. Since the release of Dunedin's recording of Handel's Messiah in its first performed version (Dublin, 1742) in late 2006 (Linn Records), the group has reached a new level of critical acclaim, culminating in the Classic FM/Gramophone Award for the best recording in the Baroque Vocal category in October 2007. In January 2008 the group achieved further success by being presented with the best Baroque Album award at the Midem Classical Awards in Cannes, France. This is the only such award to a Scottish group in recent years (and the first to an ensemble that is not a Scottish National Company or BBC orchestra) and now gives Dunedin a truly international reputation. Dunedin's next release, of Handel's Acis & Galatea, has already been recorded and will be appearing on Linn in November 2008.
One particular speciality of the group is to perform familiar works from the Baroque era in unusual ways: for instance, presenting Handel's Messiah successively in the variety of versions that Handel himself developed in nearly 20 years of performances; presenting Bach's Passions in the lean vocal scoring of their original performances (the new recording presents the work for the first time in Bach's last performed version). Another direction is to commission new pieces to complement and play off the old: William Sweeney, Errollyn Wallen and Peter Nelson have, for instance, written works to complement the era of George Buchanan, the Song of Songs settings of Heinrich Schütz and the motets of Bach.
The Consort has appeared at festivals in Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands as well as at the Edinburgh International Festival. It has worked in collaboration with ensembles including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia 21, Scottish Ensemble, Mr McFall's Chamber, Paragon Ensemble, Florilegium, La Serenissima and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, has appeared on BBC 2 and BBC 4 television and been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland.
For further information -
www.dunedin-consort.org.uk/More acclaim for Matthew Passion28 August 2008
Another award for Dunedin Consort
more >>Linn Records Delighted with Glasgow UNESCO Music Award21 August 2008
Label's home city honoured
more >>Dunedin Consort announce second Handel recording15 August 2008
Acis and Galatea due for release in November 2008
more >>CD of the Week in Australia for Dunedin Consort’s Matthew Passion20 May 2008
Australian praise for Matthew Passion!
more >>New free podcast service19 March 2008
Barb Jungr and John Butt launch Linn Records new podcast service
more >>Two Linn Records albums in the UK Classical Charts17 March 2008
Dunedin Consort and Sir Charles Mackerras in the top 20
more >>BBC Radio 3's CD Review discusses downloading18 February 2008
Andrew McGregor and James Jolly enthuse about downloading
more >>Messiah wins second award31 January 2008
second success for the Dunedin Consort
more >>Award nomination for Dunedin Consort's Messiah30 November 2007
Messiah nominated for a Midem Classical Award
more >>Dunedin Consort's Messiah wins "Baroque Vocal" category at Classic FM Gramophone awards04 October 2007
WINNER of the "Baroque Vocal" category
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Pizzicato
'Supersonic Award' for the Dunedin's recording
more >>Hi-Fi News"Superb"
more >>CD Compact"El resultado sonoro es escalofriante, ni débil ni esquelético, ni pobre, sino perfectamente equilibrado..."
more >>Toccata"Die gesamte Interpretation atmet Fröhlichkeit, Spielfreude und höchstes Musiziervergnügen."
more >>Hi-Fi News
A recording with 'intimacy and immediacy'
more >>High Fidelity
An excellent review from the Polish Audiophile publication
more >>MusicWeb International"...this one is very special indeed."
more >>ClassicalSource.comLinn's impressive LP presentation of "Messiah" can truly be described as 'state of the art'
more >>Opus Musica"Excelente..."
more >>Atlanta Audio Society"...a really memorable and persuasive Matthew Passion..."
more >>Audiophile Audition"...this one is tough to beat."
more >>LP Magazin"Die Pressung ist erstklassig, und auch bezüglich des Klangs nimmt dieser "Messias" eine Ausnahmestellung ein."
more >>The Sunday TelegraphA performance of 'disarming emotional and dramatic immediacy'
more >>The GuardianThere's no doubt that this one is the pick of this year's crop...tinglingly vivid.
more >>The Berkshire ReviewSuperb
more >>Financial Timessheer intimacy of musical and dramatic dialogue
more >>The HeraldThey've done it again...the singing is to die for...
more >>Daily MailNicholas Mulroy is an excellent Evangelist
more >>classicalsource.comThe musicianship of the youthful Dunedin Players is, quite simply, second to none
more >>McAlister Matheson Music Newsletterone of the most dramatically involving and emotionally searing performances of this work to have appeared on disc
more >>BerlingskeAlligevel skal man lede længe efter en flottere indspilning... Musikerne spiller som en drøm.
more >>BBC Music MagazineMy new benchmark. Performance ***** / Sound *****
more >>PreludeWonderbaarlijk mooie Mattheuspassie
more >>The ScotsmanA highlight of 2008...brilliantly proficient
more >>GramophoneButt's St Matthew is truly original in spheres resonating beyond established parameters. Gramophone Recommended.
more >>BBC OnlineFrom the word go, the Dunedin Consort draws you in.
more >>Classic FM magazineDisc of the Month! Performances of stunning conviction
more >>TrouwVerfrissende ontdekkingsreis door Bachs Matthaus Passion is verrassend.
more >>Independent on Sundayone of the finest available one-voice-per-part Bach performances
more >>The ObserverThe playing and the singing is outstanding. Highly recommended.
more >>SA-CD.netHighly recommended indeed
more >>SA-CD.netHighly recommended - indeed, this version is probably the first choice for this ever popular work.
more >>Hi Fi ChoiceThis is a stunning performance, and a brilliant recording...
more >>Inverness CourierThe Consort deliver a fresh and hugely enjoyable perspective on the music
more >>Classic FM Magazine...nothing but praise
more >>Allmusic.comALBUM OF THE DAY - One of the most compelling and engaging Messiahs on disc.
more >>Atlanta Audio Society NewsletterAn additional plus is the excellent diction of these singers (should that surprise us about the Scots?). This is one time when you don't need to have the booklet firmly in hand in order to understand an oratorio in English!
more >>The Guardianan authoritative bass in Matthew Brook, and a superb contralto (one of three) in Clare Wilkinson, whose heart-stopping delivery of the words "And ye shall find rest unto your souls," sets the tone for the whole performance.
more >>The Timesthe real highlights are the choruses
more >>Bloomberg.com...one of the most intimate "Messiahs" available.
more >>The Sunday TelegraphThe playing of the Dunedin Players under John Butt is admirably crisp, and the singing of the Consort disciplined and clear in enunciation.
more >>Gramophone MagazineThe freshest, most natural, revelatory and transparently joyful Messiah I have heard for a very long time.
more >>BBC Music MagazineStylish, fresh and more intimate.
more >>The ScotsmanA genuine sparkle which lifts Handel's music above the ordinary, and a fresh angle for just about every moment.
more >>The Times[a] most imaginatively planned programme
more >>Daily Telegraphunaccompanied, glowingly sung and recorded
more >>Sunday HeraldCrisp singing and clear diction is matched by outstanding technical ability by the singers
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