Jordi Savall

Jordi Savall
Background information
Birth name	Jordi Savall i Bernadet
Born	August 1 1941 Igualada, Catalonia
Genres	Classical
Occupations	Gambist
Instruments	Viola da gamba, viola da braccio
Website	http://www.alia-vox.com/

Jordi Savall i Bernadet (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈʒɔrði səˈβaʎ]; born August 1 1941, in Igualada, Catalonia) is a Catalan viol player, conductor and composer. He has been one of the major figures in the field of Western early music since the 1970s, largely responsible for bringing the viol (viola da gamba) back to life on the stage. His characteristic repertory ranges from Medieval to Renaissance and Baroque music, though he has occasionally ventured into the classical or even the romantic period.

Musical education

Savall's musical training started at the age of six in the school choir of his native town (1947–55). After completion of training at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music (1959–65), he specialised in early music, collaborating with Ars Musicae Barcelona of Enric Gispert 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 favoured a style of interpretation characterised by great musical vitality and, at the same time, ultimate historical accuracy.

Jordi Savall with viol

In 1987 he returned to Barcelona to found La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to music from before the 18th century.

In 1989 Savall created Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra which is generally dedicated to music from the baroque period, but sometimes also performs music from the classical or 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).

Recordings

Savall's discography includes more than 100 recordings. Originally recording with EMI Classics, and then from 1975 with the Astrée label of Michel Bernstein, since 1998 he has released his records under his own label, Alia Vox.

Honours and awards

In 2000 Savall 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.

He was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa degree by the University of Barcelona on 27 November 2006.

He was twice nominated for a Grammy, and won the 2011 Grammy Award for 'Best Small Ensemble Performance' for Dinastia Borja. Església i poder al Renaixement.

In 2008 Savall was appointed a European Union ambassador for intercultural dialogue. In June 2008 he and his wife, Montserrat Figueras, were named "Artists for Peace" by UNESCO.

In February, 2009 he received the Handel Music Prize from the city of Halle, Germany, and the National Music Prize from the National Council of Music and Arts of Catalonia. In 2010, he was given the Praetorius Musikpreis Niedersachsen and a MIDEM Classical Award, for his album "Jerusalem –La ville des deux Paix: La paix céleste et la paix terrestre."

In 2012 Savall was awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.

Filmography

Savall 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 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) Joan the Maiden, Part 1: The Battles by Jacques Rivette
• (1994) Joan the Maiden, Part 2: The Prisons by Jacques Rivette
• (1997) Hosszú alkony (i.e. Long Dusk) by Attila Janisch
• (1997) Marquise by Vera Belmont
• (1998) Top Secret by Jacques Rivette

External links

• Alia-vox.com, Jordi Savall's official website.
• Complete discography at Medieval.org
• The private website Classic @ la carte is devoted primarily to Jordi Savall's works.
• Misteria Paschalia Festival
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