Monica Huggett
Encyclopedia
Monica Huggett is a British conductor and leading baroque violinist.
, London, with Manoug Parikian and Kato Havas
, baroque violin
with Sigiswald Kuijken
.
She co-founded and served as leader of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra under Ton Koopman
from 1980 to 1987. She was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music
in 1994, and serves as professor of baroque violin
at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany.
Huggett has worked with Christopher Hogwood
at the Academy of Ancient Music
; with Trevor Pinnock
and the English Concert; and toured the US in concert with James Galway
. She has served as guest director of the Arion Baroque Orchestra, Montreal; Tafelmusik
, Toronto; the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
; the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
; Philharmonia Baroque, San Francisco; the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra; and Concerto Copenhagen
.
Huggett continues as artistic director of the Portland Baroque Orchestra and of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and is guest director of the Seville Baroque Orchestra. She also founded the baroque Ensemble Sonnerie and Hausmusik London as a chamber ensemble which concentrates on Romantic music
.
She has won Gramophone Awards
for her recordings of Bach's
Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin (1997) and Biber's violin sonatas (2002).
Huggett's expertise in the musical and social history of the baroque era, coupled with her unique interpretation of baroque music, has made her a much sought-after resource for students of the baroque violin. She has given master classes
in Banff, Dartington, Vicenza, Dublin, The Hague and Medellin.
In 2008 she was appointed director of the new graduate program in historical performance at the Juilliard School
, New York.
“This is a disc that merits the attention of anybody who appreciates the highest flights of violin playing, from whatever period"
The Daily Telegraph, August 2001
ASV Gramophone Award Winner 2002 (Baroque Instrumental)
5* BBC Music Magazine, October 2001
“9” rating in Repertoire Magazine (France)
BBC Music Magazine Critics' Choice - December 2001
“With the tonal sweetness of Huggett’s three violins resonating pleasingly through the many double- and multiple-stoppings and her bowing demonstrating a delicious lightness and freedom, she admirably displays her eloquent command of Biber’s sublime and richly symbolic language. Huggett’s [approach] is ravishing in its sonorities, her supporting cast adding significantly to the exotic sounds of the various scordaturas and the overall effect of her intelligent, stylish and expressive playing.”
The Strad Magazine, November 2004
“Huggett's playing - on three violins - shines with ease and expression”
The Times
“Huggett’s imaginative approach and lively response to detail are among the most rewarding aspects of her version of these emotionally rewarding pieces.”
5* BBC Music Magazine, December 2004
“Of all the recordings now available of Biber...this [is] by far and away the most spectacular, exuberant, colourful and downright ravishing of them all. Huggett positively revels in the virtuosity of Biber’s original...Huggett’s beautifully crafted performance of the complex and, at times, profoundly moving solo Passacaglia rounds off what is a matchless recording from every perspective.”
International Record Review, Nov 2004
“No matter how many versions of the Bach violin concertos you already own, this one is a must.”
International Record Review
Biography
At the age of 16, Huggett started studying at the Royal Academy of MusicRoyal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, London, with Manoug Parikian and Kato Havas
Kato havas
Kató Havas is a violinist and violin and viola teacher who developed the "New Approach to violin playing" to help prevent and physical injuries and eliminate stage fright related to playing the violin or viola. Through the teaching of the New Approach, Kató Havas realized that the release of...
, baroque violin
Baroque violin
A baroque violin is, in common usage, any violin whose neck, fingerboard, bridge, and tailpiece are of the type used during the baroque period. Such an instrument may be an original built during the baroque and never changed to modern form; or a modern replica built as a baroque violin; or an...
with Sigiswald Kuijken
Sigiswald Kuijken
Sigiswald Kuijken is a Belgian violinist, violist, and conductor known for playing on authentic instruments.-Biography:Kuijken was born in Dilbeek, near Brussels. He was a member of the Alarius Ensemble of Brussels between 1964 and 1972 and formed La Petite Bande in 1972...
.
She co-founded and served as leader of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra under Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
from 1980 to 1987. She was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in 1994, and serves as professor of baroque violin
Baroque violin
A baroque violin is, in common usage, any violin whose neck, fingerboard, bridge, and tailpiece are of the type used during the baroque period. Such an instrument may be an original built during the baroque and never changed to modern form; or a modern replica built as a baroque violin; or an...
at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany.
Huggett has worked with Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Hogwood
Christopher Jarvis Haley Hogwood CBE, MA , HonMusD , born 10 September 1941, Nottingham, is an English conductor, harpsichordist, writer and musicologist, well known as the founder of the Academy of Ancient Music.-Biography:...
at the Academy of Ancient Music
Academy of Ancient Music
The Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after a previous organisation of the same name of the 18th century. The musicians play on either original instruments or modern copies of...
; with Trevor Pinnock
Trevor Pinnock
Trevor David Pinnock CBE is an English conductor, harpsichordist, and occasional organist and pianist.He is best known for his association with the period-performance orchestra The English Concert which he helped found and directed from the keyboard for over 30 years in baroque and early classical...
and the English Concert; and toured the US in concert with James Galway
James Galway
- External links : IMGArtists.com 15 September 2008. AllAboutJazz.com 5 August 2008.*...
. She has served as guest director of the Arion Baroque Orchestra, Montreal; Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik
The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra is a Canadian baroque orchestra specializing in early music. They often perform with choir and play on period instruments....
, Toronto; the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
; the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is a 40-member American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, considered by music critic Jim Svejda as "America's finest chamber orchestra".-History:...
; Philharmonia Baroque, San Francisco; the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra; and Concerto Copenhagen
Concerto Copenhagen
Concerto Copenhagen, also known as CoCo, is a Danish period instrument orchestra, established in 1991 and directed since 1999 by harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen....
.
Huggett continues as artistic director of the Portland Baroque Orchestra and of the Irish Baroque Orchestra and is guest director of the Seville Baroque Orchestra. She also founded the baroque Ensemble Sonnerie and Hausmusik London as a chamber ensemble which concentrates on Romantic music
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
.
She has won Gramophone Awards
Gramophone Award
The Gramophone Awards are one of the most significant honours bestowed on recordings in the classical record industry, often referred to as the Oscars for classical music. The winners are selected annually by critics for the Gramophone magazine and various members of the industry, including...
for her recordings of Bach's
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin (1997) and Biber's violin sonatas (2002).
Huggett's expertise in the musical and social history of the baroque era, coupled with her unique interpretation of baroque music, has made her a much sought-after resource for students of the baroque violin. She has given master classes
Master class
A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
in Banff, Dartington, Vicenza, Dublin, The Hague and Medellin.
In 2008 she was appointed director of the new graduate program in historical performance at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, New York.
Reviews
- Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Violin Sonatas, Nisi Dominus, Passacaglia (Sonnerie / Huggett with Thomas Guthrie)
“This is a disc that merits the attention of anybody who appreciates the highest flights of violin playing, from whatever period"
The Daily Telegraph, August 2001
ASV Gramophone Award Winner 2002 (Baroque Instrumental)
5* BBC Music Magazine, October 2001
“9” rating in Repertoire Magazine (France)
BBC Music Magazine Critics' Choice - December 2001
- Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Mystery Sonatas (vol. 1)
“With the tonal sweetness of Huggett’s three violins resonating pleasingly through the many double- and multiple-stoppings and her bowing demonstrating a delicious lightness and freedom, she admirably displays her eloquent command of Biber’s sublime and richly symbolic language. Huggett’s [approach] is ravishing in its sonorities, her supporting cast adding significantly to the exotic sounds of the various scordaturas and the overall effect of her intelligent, stylish and expressive playing.”
The Strad Magazine, November 2004
- Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Mystery Sonatas (vol. 2)
“Huggett's playing - on three violins - shines with ease and expression”
The Times
“Huggett’s imaginative approach and lively response to detail are among the most rewarding aspects of her version of these emotionally rewarding pieces.”
5* BBC Music Magazine, December 2004
“Of all the recordings now available of Biber...this [is] by far and away the most spectacular, exuberant, colourful and downright ravishing of them all. Huggett positively revels in the virtuosity of Biber’s original...Huggett’s beautifully crafted performance of the complex and, at times, profoundly moving solo Passacaglia rounds off what is a matchless recording from every perspective.”
International Record Review, Nov 2004
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concertos BWV 1041, 1042, 1052 & 1056 (Monica Huggett, Sonnerie)
“No matter how many versions of the Bach violin concertos you already own, this one is a must.”
International Record Review