Leonhardt-Consort

The Leonhardt Consort was a Baroque orchestra, which was founded in 1955 by Gustav Leonhardt and existed until 1990. The core of the ensemble were musicians from the Netherlands, which were supplemented by international artists. The ensemble specializing in music of the Baroque in historical performance practice. It became famous through the recordings of baroque chamber music and the Bach cantatas.

History

The Leonhardt Consort was led mainly by Gustav Leonhardt. Originally, the ensemble consisted of five strings and a harpsichord and focused on early Baroque works of the 17th century: Samuel Scheidt, Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and English composers such as Henry Purcell and William Lawes. The program included a number of previously unpublished works. The range was extended by music of Claudio Monteverdi and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

One of the first musicians of the ensemble included Eduard Melkus and his wife Marie ( violin), Alice Harnoncourt (viola) and her husband Nikolaus Harnoncourt (cello ) and Michel Piguet (oboe). Later, Marie Leonhardt concertmaster and there was a close collaboration with Frans Brüggen, Anner Bylsma and the brothers Wieland Kuijken Sigiswald Kuijken.

Together with the Alarius ensemble was the Leonhardt Consort, founded in 1972 at the heart of La Petite Bande, but remained until 1990 consist of the cantata project.

Since the 1970s, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach was at the center: A complete recording of his harpsichord concertos, the St. Matthew Passion (Director: Johan van der Meer ) and the Brandenburg Concertos. In cooperation with the Concentus Musicus Wien with Nikolaus Harnoncourt all the church cantatas of Bach Teldec were recorded from 1971 to 1990 with the participation of various soloists and choirs. The completion of this project also marked the end of the ensemble.