Music-minded

Director Ashley Solomon

Regular performances in some of the world's most prestigious venues have confirmed Florilegium's status as one of Britain's most outstanding period instrument ensembles. Since their formation in 1991 they have established a reputation for stylish and exciting interpretations, from intimate chamber works to large-scale orchestral and choral repertoire, frequently working with some of the world's finest musicians.

Concert venues include Sydney Opera House, Esplanade (Singapore), Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzerthaus (Vienna), Beethoven-Haus (Bonn), Handel-Haus (Halle) and Frick Collection (New York).

Among the numerous residencies Florilegium have held was Ensemble-in-Residence at London's Wigmore Hall from 1998 to 2000, performing several series of concerts each year and becoming actively involved in the Hall's education work. Since September 2008 they have been Ensemble in Association at the Royal College of Music.

Performances were given throughout 2010 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Pergolesi's birth, including Wigmore Hall, Stour Festival and York, and in Europe at the Budapest Festival, in Spain, Austria, France, Italy and Germany. The 2010/11 season started with Florilegium's debut at the Edinburgh International Festival, in August 2010, with a concert of Bolivian Baroque. Other concerts this season include performances in Italy, France, Poland, Austria, Israel and chamber and orchestral concerts throughout the UK. The culmination of the season will be the group's 20th anniversary concerts at the Wigmore Hall in July 2011. These will be two concerts comprising the complete Bach Brandenburg Concerti and Orchestral Suites, and the group's original first violin, Rachel Podger, will be guest Director that weekend.

Their over twenty recordings for Channel Classics have been awarded many prizes including a Gramophone Award nomination, Editor's Choice from Gramophone, Diapasons d'Or and Chocs de la Musique. Florilegium's CD of Telemann's Paris Quartets Vol 2 received the Classical Internet Award from Classicstoday.com. The Bach Cantatas disc with Johannette Zomer was awarded a 2008 Edison Award, Dutch music's most prestigious prize. The second volume of Baroque Music from Bolivian Missions was nominated for a 2008 BBC Music Magazine award, and BBC Music Magazine selected volume 3 as Disc of the Month for April 2010. A disc of music by Pergolesi was released in May 2010 and was BBC Music Magazine's CD choice in the vocal category in July 2010; future recordings include Florilegium's arrangements of Bach's Organ Trio Sonatas.