Historical Performance at the Academy Spring 2013An update from Margaret Faultless, Head of Historical Performance

Welcome to the 2014 new Year newsletter from the Historical Performance department at the Academy. You will find reports of some of the many projects/classes/special events that have taken place last term (Autumn 2013) and details of exciting things to come.

We are already a term into this year but nevertheless I’d like officially to welcome two new teachers to the department. Pamela Thorby, the new professor of recorder and sackbut teacher Adam Wolf. Both have already made their mark not only with their inspirational one to one teaching but also through their enthusiasm and commitment to chamber music, larger projects and exciting plans for the future. Also in a new role is Philip Knight, acting Departmental Administrator last year, and now Senior Administrator – without whom the department would be lost!

Not only do we run a substantial programme of activities for HP students, the department is always ready to welcome students from other departments at the

Academy curious to find out what motivates us to use history and period instruments to inspire our music-making.

Autumn 2013 included four significant orchestral projects, a concert of three Haydn symphonies in the Dukes Hall, and three Bach cantata performances, including one conducted by the eminent Bach scholar and performer Masaaki Suzuki, last year’s recipient of the prestigious Kohn Bach Prize. It was a memorable experience for all on stage.

There were visits by two members of the Oberlin Piano Trio and the Mica Comberti Professor of Baroque Violin, Rachel Podger, whose infectious musicianship is an inspiration.

We are looking forward to the orchestral project with Rachel next term, to include a performance at the Wigmore Hall and a trip to Denmark.

Like all other departments at the Academy, in Historical Performance we are keen to programme additional activities under the umbrella of Professional Development. Collaborations with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment took the form of a workshop on leading education projects with OAE Education Director Cherry Forbes, a session about finances led by Lubbock Fine, and a seminar on ‘How to Survive in the Profession’.

Lisa Beznosiuk and the Academy Baroque Ensemble

This term’s highlights include another four Bach Cantata performances; January 19th, February 16th, March 16th and April 6th, including, in the April concert, my own all time favourite cantata BWV106, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit.

Mr Haydn’s Inexhaustible Genius Box continues with another two symphonies this term – number 6, Le Matin, and number 18 – which will be featured in a departmental workshop on January 24th where students will be encouraged to lead the rehearsal process.

The annual dance project with our head of dance, Mary Collins, culminates in a lunchtime performance on February 3rd in the Duke’s Hall.

The Academy’s opera this term is Handel’s Ariodante, to be performed on historical instruments, and we are all relishing the prospect of such an intensive project. There will be three performances of the opera, taking place on March 18th, 20th and 21st.

On February 26th a further major Handel work, Israel in Egypt, will be performed in collaboration with the Chamber Choir from King’s College, London. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to become really well acquainted with this substantial repertoire piece for professional orchestras.

For further details of all these projects and other Academy concerts featuring students from the Historical Department please see the Concerts Diary and look on the website or contact our Senior Administrator, Philip Knight at p.knight@ram.ac.uk.

Margaret Faultless

Head of Historical Performance at the Royal Academy of Music