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Purcell Quartet Follow Artist +
The Purcell Quartet has become recognized as one of
the leading chamber groups in the realm of Baroque
music performance.
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Escucha Purcell Quartet
en Apple Music
Active 1980s - 2010s
Formed 1983 in London, England
Genre Classical
Styles Chamber Music,
Concerto, Choral, Opera
Group Catherine Mackintosh,
Members Richard Boothby, Robert
Woolley
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Biography
Purcell Quartet Biography by Robert
Cummings
The Purcell Quartet has become recognized
as one of the leading chamber groups in the
realm of Baroque music performance. As its
name suggests, the group has devoted much
effort to championing the chamber works of
Henry Purcell, playing and recording a great
amount of his output, notably the complete
three- and four-part sonatas and the
complete pavans. But the group's vast
repertory also includes works by J.S. Bach,
Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Schütz, and many
other Baroque composers. In addition, -- and
what makes the Purcell players unique -- they
have staged operas, such as Monteverdi's
L'incoronazione di Poppea and have presented
large choral works in concert by Bach,
including cantatas and masses. They have
made over 50 recordings, mostly for the
Chandos label.
The Purcell Quartet was founded in London in
1983, but did not give its debut concert until
February 14, the following year, at London's
St. John's, Smith Square. The group's
members then were Robert Woolley
(keyboard), Catherine Mackintosh (violin),
Elizabeth Wallfisch (second violin), and
Richard Boothby (cello; viola da gamba). Only
one change in personnel has taken place over
the years: violinist Catherine Weiss replaced
Wallfisch.
The group had immediate success following
its triumphant 1984 debut concert, and within
three years turned out six recordings for the
Hyperion label, each devoted to a different
Baroque composer: Vivaldi, Corelli,
Alessandro Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach, Geminiani,
and Marais. In 1987 the ensemble began
recording for Chandos Records and has
produced more than 40 CD titles for that
British label.
By the early '90s, the Purcell Quartet was in
great demand, both at home and abroad.
Numerous concert tours took the quartet not
only throughout the U.K., but across Europe,
the U.S., South America, and parts of the
Middle East. In 1998 the group traveled to
Japan to stage performances of Monteverdi's
L'incoronazione di Poppea. Three years later it
returned for another important tour, this one
featuring a highly successful staging of
Monteverdi's L'Orfeo starring Mark Padmore.
Other leading vocalists have typically
appeared at the Purcell Quartet's opera and
concert productions over the years, including
Emma Kirkby, Nancy Argenta, Michael
Chance, and Peter Harvey.
The Purcell Quartet
marked its 20th
anniversary in an
acclaimed February 2004
concert at Wigmore Hall.
The ensemble has remained very active in the
recording studio, and among its recordings is
the 2006 Chandos CD of Couperin's Les
Nations, Vol. 2.
Discography
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2023?
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