Biography

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Current as of July 2019

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (Akamus) was founded in 1982 in Berlin and has since become one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras using period instruments. The ensemble can now look back over an unprecedented history of success. Akamus appears regularly at the most important venues in Europe and internationally, touring in both the USA and throughout Asia.
Akamus has established itself as one of the pillars of Berlin’s cultural scene, having had its own concert series at the Konzerthaus in the city for more than 30 years. The ensemble has also collaborated with the Berlin State Opera in performances of Baroque repertoire since 1994. In addition, Akamus has its own concert series at the Prince Regent Theatre in Munich since 2012.
As well as working with guest conductors, the ensemble is often directed from the leader’s chair by one of its three concertmasters: Bernhard Forck, Georg Kallweit and Stephan Mai. Akamus has enjoyed an especially close and enduring partnership with René Jacobs. The ensemble has also recently been directed by Emmanuelle Haïm, Bernhard Labadie, Paul Agnew, Diego Fasolis and Rinaldo Alessandrini.
Akamus enjoys a fruitful collaboration with the RIAS Chamber Choir and together they have produced many award-winning recordings. In addition, the ensemble maintains a close collaboration with the Bavarian Radio Chorus. Other regular guest performers include internationally renowned soloists such as Isabelle Faust, Anna Prohaska, Michael Volle and Bejun Mehta. Together with the Sasha Waltz & Guests Dance Company, Akamus has developed successful productions of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Pascal Dusapin’s Medeamaterial in Sasha Waltz’s staging, titled as Medea.
The ensemble’s recordings have won all the prestigious classical music awards, including a Grammy, the Diapason d’Or, the Cannes Classical, the Gramophone Award, the Edison Award, the MIDEM Classical Award, the Choc de l’année and the German Record Critics’ Prize. Akamus was also honoured with the Magdeburg Telemann Prize in 2006 and the Leipzig Bach Medal in 2014.

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Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin Orchestra
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Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin Orchestra
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