Biography of Gabrieli Consort & Players
"McCreesh and the Gabrieli’s prove the power of period practice." Opera Today, August 2011
Founded by Paul McCreesh in 1982, Gabrieli Consort & Players are world-renowned interpreters of great choral and instrumental repertoire, spanning from the renaissance to the present day. Their performances encompass major works from the oratorio tradition, virtuosic a cappella programmes and mould-breaking reconstructions of music from historical events. Gabrieli are acclaimed interpreters of Handel’s oratorios and Bach Passions and their recordings with Deutsche Grammophon have garnered numerous international awards. Their recording of Haydn’s Creation won a 2008 Gramophone Award for Best Choral Recording and their recent recording, A Spotless Rose, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2010.
Gabrieli are regular visitors to the world's most prestigious concert halls and appear frequently at London's major venues, with their own promotions often held in the splendidly refurbished Christ Church, Spitalfields. Recent highlights have included a colossal performance of Berlioz’s Grande Messe des Morts at the Wratislavia Cantans Festival in Wrocław 2010, Poland, Handel's Messiah in Palma, Santander, Vigo, Valencia and Zaragoza, a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah as part of the BBC Proms 2011 with further performances at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and at the Wratislavia Cantans Festival 2011, concerts of Handel's Jephtha and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in Paris and London, and tours of a cappella music around many of Spain's spectacular cathedrals including those of Barcelona, Cuenca, Granada and Toledo.
A number of strong relationships have helped define the ensemble’s international profile. For 11 years, in conjunction with Martin Randall Travel, Gabrieli have pioneered new areas of ‘cultural tourism’ in creating festivals of music in European historic centres. They have been resident artists at Brinkburn Music in Northumberland, with whom they have developed some of their most exciting projects, for 17 years. Gabrieli are also associate artists of the Wratislavia Cantans Festival, and have embarked on an exciting partnership with the Wrocław Philharmonic Choir. The ensemble is increasingly committed to working with young musicians and has relationships with Chetham’s School of Music, North East Youth Chorale and Taplow and Ulster Youth Choirs. In October 2010, the Gabrieli Young Singers’ Scheme was launched, giving young singers the opportunity to train and perform with professional musicians.
To read profiles of some of our artists, click here or on 'Artist Profiles' at left.
Biography not to be reproduced without permission. Please contact Nicola Difrancesco.