The Chinese soprano Huang Ying has become an international superstar on the concert stage and recording scene.

 

She is a 1992 graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the country's leading Western-style school of music education. Immediately afterwards, she entered the Nineteenth Concours International de Chant in Paris, where she won second prize.

 

She was described as the top singer of the People's Republic of China in September 1993 and began to appear regularly with the Shanghai Philharmonic, performing in operas.

 

 

 

Internationally renowned as an opera and concert conductor of distinction, Harry Bicket is especially noted for his interpretation of baroque and classical repertoire and since 2007 has been Artistic Director of The English Concert, one of Europe’s finest period orchestras.

 

In 2013, following regular guest appearances for Santa Fe Opera, he became their Chief Conductor and in 2018 assumed the Music Directorship.

 

Since taking up his position, he has conducted Cosi fan tutte, Fidelio, La Finta Giardiniera, Romeo et Juliette, Alcina and Candide. In the 2019 season, he also performed Strauss’ Four Last Songs with Renee Fleming. Born in Liverpool, he studied at the Royal College of Music and Oxford University.

 

 

The English Concert is a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments based in London. Founded in 1972 and directed from the harpsichord by Trevor Pinnock for 30 years, it is now directed by harpsichordist Harry Bicket. Nadja Zwiener has been orchestra leader (concertmaster) since September 2007.

 

The English Concert was founded by Trevor Pinnock and others in November 1972. The date of foundation is often given as 1973, probably because they started with seven people and only later progressed onto the orchestral repertoire as their number increased.

 

They were one of the first orchestras dedicated to performing baroque and early classical music on period instruments, their repertoire from then to now ranging approximately from Monteverdi to Mozart.

 

 

1. Vivaldi | L'Olimpiade Overture, RV 725

2. Vivaldi | Sposa, son disprezzata (Bajazet)

3. Telemann | Volker Overture

4. Handel | Endless pleasure, endless love (Semele)

5. Geminiani / Corelli | La Follia

6. Purcell | Suite from King Arthur Interspersed with Songs

7. Handel | Lascia Ch’io Pianga (Rinaldo)

8. Handel | Se pieta' (Giulio Cesare)

9. Muffat | Passacaglia from Armonico Tributo

10. Handel | Mio caro bene (Rodelinda)

11. Cesti | Intorno All' idol Mio (Orontea)

12. Handel | Tornami a vagheggiar (Alcina)