FLORILEGIUM

Symphony No. 93 in D major 1  
Symphony No. 94 in G major Surprise   
Symphony No. 101 in D major The Clock

Ashley Solomon, Director 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. Following a performance at London's Wigmore Hall, The Times newspaper wrote: Florilegium climbed the heights of dancing bliss and left the Wigmore sighing with pleasure. They have become an indispensable feature on the early music landscape. Formed in 1991, Florilegium quickly established a reputation for stylish and exciting interpretations of music from the baroque era to the early romantic revolution. Among the numerous residencies they held was the coveted post of Ensemble-in-Residence at London's Wigmore Hall, a position they enjoyed from 1998 to 2000, performing several series of concerts each year and becoming actively involved in the Hall's education work. Since September 2008 Florilegium have been Ensemble in Association at the Royal College of Music. They give one public performance each term and, where appropriate, include students from the Historical Performance department. In addition they take string, wind and keyboard sessions and give frequent masterclasses on 18th century baroque repertoire. Concert engagements have taken Florilegium throughout Europe, to North and South America, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. The group receives numerous invitations to perform at major international festivals each season and concert venues have included the Sydney Opera House, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Beethoven Haus in Bonn, Handelhaus in Halle, the restored Frauenkirche in Dresden, Thtre Grevin in Paris and the Frick Collection in New York. Florilegium's performances range from intimate chamber works to large-scale orchestral repertoire. The Florilegium Choir under the musical directorship of David Hill perform baroque choral and orchestral repertoire including mainstream passions and oratorios. Florilegium regularly collaborate with some of the world's finest singers including Dame Emma Kirkby, Derek Lee Ragin and Robin Blaze. Since their first collaboration at Easter 2000, Florilegium have been regular guests of The Bach Choir and David Hill at the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. 2008/09 season started with and a tour of Bach's Brandenburg Concerti and Orchestral Suites in France and performances of Bach's Musical Offering in London's Wigmore Hall, Nottingham and Southampton. In addition to numerous concerts at home and abroad, including those celebrating the anniversaries of Handel and Purcell, Florilegium will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of Haydn by presenting three concerts at Wigmore Hall as part of the Hall's Haydn Series as well as performances in UK festivals. The group will also be performing Haydn in Esterhazy and Handel in Halle. The group's string of nineteen recordings for the Dutch label 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 from France. Telemann's Paris Quartets Vol 2 was awarded the group's fourth Editor's Choice from Gramophone Magazine and won the Classical Internet Award from Classicstoday.com. Florilegium's first volume of Baroque Music from the Missions of the Moxos and Chiquitos Indians was released to critical acclaim in 2005; a second volume of Bolivian Baroque Music was Gramophone Editor's Choice in March 2007 and nominated for a 2008 BBC Music Magazine award. In September 2007 Bach Cantatas and Sinfonias with the Dutch soprano Johannette Zomer was released; this received a 2008 Edison Award, Dutch music's most prestigious prize. The 2nd volume, with Lucy Crowe, was released in November 2008 and selected as The Sunday Times's CD of the week ten days before Christmas. Future releases include a third volume of Bolivian Baroque Music in 2008, and Florilegium's arrangements of Bach's Organ Trio Sonatas.

() there's plenty of reason to play and enjoy listening to these arrangements, and Florilegium offers lively, impulsive performances that are strong on charm () Classics today.com
() one of the finest period instrument ensembles of our time () () splendid, spirited perfromances Classicalcdreview.com
() have they (the transcriptions) anything important to tell us about Haydn? Well, go back to the full orchestral versions after these radically slimmed down versions and you'll immediately be struck by the brilliance of Haydn's orchestration. But at the same time these superbly accomplished, intelligent and spirited performances show how little of the substance of Haydn's music need be lost in translation. More than that, they show that a chamber ensemble can bring out details and subleties that might be masked in an orchestral performance. They're also very enjoyable to listen to - surprisingly so, in fact. That's partly because of the excelent recordings, which balance the ensemble to perfection and give it a wonderful bloom. Quite simply, this is first rate Haydn playing, and strongly recommendable as that. BBC Music Magazine
A Surprise first issue of the chamber reductions of Haydns great symphonies. () these arrangements are worth hearing. () () How often listeners will want to hear these arrangements must be a personal decision, but the first instalment, well-recorded with stylish if occasionally abrasive period performances and the advantage of an SACD alternative can be warmly recommended to anyone who is intrigued. Gramophone.
() Enorme spiritualiteit waarmee Florilegium de muziek te lijf gaat () Volkskrant () een intieme, kamermuziekachtig sfeer () Klassieke Zaken
() De complete symphonien blijven overeind en door de kleine bezetting zijn de muzikale lijnen zelfs veel beter te volgen. Katholiek Dagblad
() Een schot in de roos () Gelderlander () The playing is very good. The incredible spraky account of the first movement of The Surprise (nr. 94) offers a good sampler no orchestral group could match this agility. clearly, character and vigour are more important to this group than the Classical virtues of poise and polish, and I heartily applaud their priorities () Internationale Record Review
() kammermusikalisch intim und das auf hchsten Niveau. Eine CD fr Sammler, die schon alles haben - und fr Klassikfreunde, die spa daran haben, das Original mit der Solomon-Frassung zu vergleichen. Bayerische Rundfunkt, 4 Klassik
() Das Ensemble spielt die Stcke mit so viel Esprit und feinziseliertem Zugriff, dass man nach kurzer Zeit gar nicht mehr an das Original denkt und nur noch geniet. Toccata () La sonorit de l'enregistrement est un blouissement pour les oreilles. Et quelle vitalit dans ces symphonies!! Un must dans une discothque. Le Journal de Montreal