Jordi Savall i Bernadet
(born 1941, in Igualada, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish-Catalan viol player, conductor, and composer. He has been one of the major figures in the field of early music since the 1970s, largely responsible for bringing the viol (viola da gamba) back to life on the stage. His repertory ranges from Medieval to Renaissance and Baroque music.
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Musical education
Savall's musical training started at age 6 in the school choir of his native town (1947-55). He later completed his training at the
Barcelona Conservatory of Music (1959-65). Afterward, he began his specialisation in early music collaborating with Ars Musicae
[clarification needed] and studying under
August Wenzinger at the
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in
Basel,
Switzerland (1968-70). In 1974 he succeeded Wenzinger as professor of viola da gamba at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.
Ensembles
In 1974 he formed the ensemble
Hespèrion XX
(known since 2000 as
Hespèrion XXI), together with the soprano
Montserrat Figueras (his wife),
Lorenzo Alpert and
Hopkinson Smith. Hespèrion XX favored a style of interpretation characterised by great musical vitality and at the same time, maximum historical accuracy.
In 1987 he returned to Barcelona to found
La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to the interpretation of music prior to the 18th century.
Finally, in 1989 Savall created
Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that is generally dedicated to the baroque repertoire, but which sometimes also serves as an outlet for music that hails from the classical/romantic repertoire (e.g.
Sinfonía Grande Orquesta
by Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga).
More recently, Savall has performed with his family. The Savall family ensemble includes Jordi Savall's wife, Montserrat Figueras, and their two children, Arianna and Ferran.
Arianna Savall plays the harp and sings, like her mother. Ferran Savall plays the
theorbo (bass lute) and sings (not only with his family but also in jazz clubs in Barcelona).
[1]
Savall's discography includes more than 100 recordings. Since 1998 he has released his records under his own label,
Alia Vox.
[2]
Honors and awards
On 2000 he was awarded the Premi d'Honor Lluís Carulla, given for service to Catalan culture or for scientific, cultural or civic works in the Catalan language.
Jordi Savall was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa degree by the
University of Barcelona on 27 November 2006.
In 2008 Savall was appointed a
European Union ambassador for intercultural dialogue. In June 2008 Savall and his wife, Montserrat Figueras, were named "Artists for Peace" by
UNESCO.
[3]
Filmography
Jordi Savall, a two-time
Grammy nominee, adapted and performed music for the 1991 Alain Corneau film,
Tous les matins du monde
. His work on this film earned him a
César award from the French film industry in 1992. The soundtrack, re-released on his own Alia Vox label, has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
As a composer, Jordi Savall has written music for the following films:
- (1991) Tous les matins du monde
(All the World's Mornings
) by Alain Corneau
- (1993) El Pajaro de la felicidad
(The Bird of Happiness
) by Pilar Miró
- (1993) Jeanne la Pucelle I : Les batailles
(Joan of Arc: The Battles
) by Jacques Rivette
- (1994) Jeanne la Pucelle II : Les prisons
(Joan of Arc: The Prisons
) by Jacques Rivette
- (1997) Hosszú alkony
(i.e. Long Dusk
) by Attila Janisch
- (1997) Marquise
by Vera Belmont
- (1998) Secret defense
by Jacques Rivette
References
- Alex Ross, "The King of Spain: Jordi Savall at the Metropolitan Museum", ''The New Yorker'' (May 2, 2005).
- Alia-Vox, "Who We Are" http://alia-vox.com/aliavox.php#rao, accessed 16 December 2008.
- "Montserrat Figueras and Jordi Savall are named 'Artists for Peace'", 18 June 2008,