- Andrew Lawrence-King
Andrew Lawrence-King (born in
Guernsey September 3 ,1959 ) is aharpist andearly music specialist, and is currently the director ofThe Harp Consort . He also is also a conductor who directs from one of several continuo instruments, includingharp , organ,harpsichord &psaltery www.goldbergweb.com/en/interpreters/conductors/8206.php] .Early career
His musical career began as Head Chorister at the Cathedral and Parish Church of
St Peter Port Guernsey, whence he won an Organ Scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge, graduating in Mathematics, and completing his studies at the London Early Music Centre. [http://www.harmoniamundi.com/uk/artistes_fiche.php?artist_id=53 Harmonia Mundi ] ] He established himself as a continuo-player with Europe's foremost specialist ensembles and in 1988 founded and co-directed the continuo-group Tragicomedia until the group split up. He joinedJordi Savall 's Hesperion XX as harp soloist, and was appointed Professor of Harp and Continuo at the Akademie für Alte Musik, Bremen. At the end of the 1990s he was replaced, historical harp was taught by Hannelore Devaere.In 1994 Andrew Lawrence-King formed his own ensemble,
The Harp Consort , and was immediately signed up by Deutsche Harmonia Mundi for a seven-year series of solo and ensemble recordings:*Luz y Norte, the
medieval 'opera' Ludus Danielis
*Italian Concerto, on which he is both conductor and concerto soloist
*La púrpura de la rosa, the firstNew World operaHis recital CDs include The Harp of Luduvico (Spanish & Italian renaissance) La Harpe Royale (French
Baroque ), His Majesty’s Harper (Dowland &Byrd ) and The Secret of the Semitones (Bach ), and he has also recordedVivaldi ’sFour Seasons &Handel 's first opera,Almira .Recent projects
The Harp Consort now records exclusively for Harmonia Mundi USA. Their chart-topping first release was Missa Mexicana: festive polyphony and popular dances from 17th-century Mexico. Their second CD, Miracles (songs by Gautier de Coincy, 13th -century Prior of Vic) won the Dutch “Edison” award: it was also Gramophone Magazine’s Editor’s Choice & London Telegraph CD of the Year. Their latest release is El Arte de Fantasía: dances,tiento s &chansons from theSpanish Golden Age .Andrew Lawrence-King conducted a staged production of
Peri ’s "Euridice " at the Los Angeles Getty Centre for the 400th anniversary of the earliest opera, and this season will direct Handel’s "Almira " for theHelsinki Stadia.Rolling Stone magazine. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate bySheffield University for his achievements in Baroque opera.Performances
He has led baroque
opera s andoratorio s at:*La Scala, Milan
*Sydney Opera House
*Casals Hall, Tokyo
*Berlin Philharmonie
*Vienna Konzerthaus
*New York’s Carnegie Hall
*Mexico City’sPalacio de Bellas Artes .Current activities
Andrew Lawrence-King now divides his time between solo recitals, tours with
The Harp Consort , and appearances as guest director for orchestras, choirs and baroque operas in Europe, Scandinavia and the Americas, interspersed with worldwide performances of Luz y norte and Missa Mexicana. He is Professor of EarlyHarp &Continuo at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya (ESMUC ) inBarcelona , and has been awarded a three-year fellowship by the UK Arts and Humanities Research CouncilAHRB to researchSpanish Baroque music-drama. His first solo recital for Harmonia Mundi USA will be Chorégraphie: Music forLouis XIV ’s Dancing Masters. [http://www.wnyc.org/music/playlists/2005/07/19 WNYC - Music ] ]A keen sailor, Andrew holds the
Royal Yachting Association 's Ocean Yachtmaster certificate, and spends most of his free time aboard his boat, ‘Continuo’. His enjoyment of the sea is expressed in his revival ofGuernesiaise traditional music, Les Travailleurs de la Mer: Ancient Songs from a Small Island.References
External links
* [http://www.harmoniamundi.com CDs featuring Andrew Lawrence-King]
* [http://www.esmuc.net Study early harps]
* [http://www.classicstoday.com/digest/pdigest.asp?perfidx=2430 USA reviews]
* [http://www.naxos.com/artistinfo/2896.htm Biography]
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