Orchestra of the age of enlightenment

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Resident Orchestra of Southbank Centre

Principal Artists:
Ivan Fischer, Vladimir Jurowski and Sir Simon Rattle CBE

‘The OAE is quite possibly the finest orchestra in the land, period instruments or no, and thus one of the finest in the world’ (Evening Standard).

It's 1986. For some 10 years there has existed a largely London-based core of players of Baroque instruments who have played for bands run autonomously by experts. Confidence and standards have improved greatly. Music-making has been transformed.

And then a group of players forms a self-governing orchestra of period instruments - the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). There's no single conductor. Instead, conductors or directors from violin or keyboard are appointed on a concert-by-concert basis. The OAE is quickly recognised as special, and the recording industry clasps it to its bosom.

In celebration of its 21 years, six great conductors who have played pivotal roles in the Orchestra's history have been named as Principal Artists (Ivan Fisher, Vladimir Jurowski and Sir Simon Rattle) and Emeritus Conductors (Frans Bruggen, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Roger Norrington). And the OAE continues to thrill through its dynamic, refined and extraordinary playing.

The OAE has been an Associate Orchestra of Southbank Centre for 13 years, becoming a Resident Orchestra last season. In addition it is Associate Orchestra at Glyndebourne, and is the first period instrument orchestra to offer an apprenticeship scheme, the OAE Experience.

This season the OAE celebrates revolution. Not only examining the music surrounding the French Revolution in the four-part series The Eve of Revolution, but highlighting the revolution in music-making that the OAE started. The 2007/08 Season has concerts with all our Principal Artists, and starts with a dynamic new production of the seminal operaDido and Aeneas.

In addition the ground-breaking and award-nominated late night series, The Night Shiftreturns for a further three events.

JOIN THE FRIENDS!

You can get to know the orchestra better by becoming a Friend of the OAE. Friends receive the bulletin Enlightenment with news of concerts and exclusive events, opportunities to meet the players and free concert programmes. To join for as little as £25 simply call the OAE office on 020 7836 6690.

www.oae.co.uk

Photo: Chi-Chi Nwanoku MBE by Eric Richmond