Download the book in PDF. - Misteria Paschalia

Jordi Savall
Having begun his musical education early, singing
as a child in a choir in his hometown, Jordi Savall
studied at the music conservatory in Barcelona,
from which he graduated in 1965. Having taken a
liking to early music, he independently undertook
learning viola da gamba performance. Beginning
in 1968, he continued his education at the Schola
Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. Savall is an
exceptional figure – an uncommonly talented
musician, instrumentalist and conductor, teacher,
persevering researcher and a discoverer of many
musical treasures. For over 30 years, he has been
involved in reconstruction and performance of
early works, not infrequently ones that have been
forgotten. Together with Montserrat Figueras, he
founded the following ensembles: Hespèrion XXI,
La Capella Reial de Catalunya (1987) and Le Concert
des Nations (1989). His experience and passion
in no small measure contributed to the success of
A. Corneau’s film Tous les matins du monde; Savall’s
recordings made for the film were honored with a
César award. His discography includes over 170
other recordings, for which he has received, among
others, Midem Classical Awards (many times) and
the Orphée d’Or (2008); his two-disc album Don
Quijote de la Mancha – Romances y Músicas was
acclaimed as the recording of the year in 2006; it
received a nomination for the Grammy award.
One recording project he prepared – Jérusalem,
La Ville des deux Paix: La Paix céleste et la Paix
terrestre – attained great critical recognition and
won the Orhphée d’Or de l’Académie du Disque
Lyrique in 2008, as well as the Caecilia and the
Midem Classical Award (2010). Savall is the winner
of many distinctions: Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et
Lettres (1988), La Medalla de Oro de las Bellas Artes
(1998), Victoire de la Musique (2002), Medalla d’Or
of the Parliament of Catalonia (2003); he has also
received the UNESCO Artist for Peace title. In
2009, he received the Georg Friedrich Händel Preis
awarded by Halle – the composer’s hometown – and
was named an ambassador of the European Year of
50
Creativity and Innovation; and last year, he won the
Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias de la Música
prize, together with the title of best classical music
performer, as well as the Praetorius Musikpreis of
Lower Saxony.