Rachel Podger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rachel Podger (born 1968) is an English violinist specialising in the performance of baroque music. She often conducts baroque orchestras from the violin.
She was born in England but educated at a German Steiner school. She returned to study first with Perry Hart, then at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama with David Takeno, Pauline Scott and Micaela Comberti. During her studies she co-founded baroque chamber groups The Palladian Ensemble and Florilegium, and worked with period instrument ensembles such as the New London Consort, and London Baroque.
She was first violin of the Gabrieli Consort and Players and later of The English Concert, c.1997-2002, touring extensively, often as soloist in Vivaldi's le quattro stagioni and grosso mogul concertos. In 2004 she began a guest directorship of The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, opening with a tour in the USA with Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. She also works as a guest director with Arte dei Suonatori (Poland), Musica Angelica (USA) and Santa Fe Pro Musica (USA), and as soloist with The Academy of Ancient Music.
She is a professor of baroque violin at both the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
[edit] Recordings
- Bach's complete sonatas and partitas for violin solo
- Telemann's twelve fantasies for solo violin (1746)
- Bach's complete sonatas for violin and harpsichord, with Trevor Pinnock
- Vivaldi's 12 concertos 'La Stravaganza', directing Arte dei Suonatori
- Mozart's complete sonatas for violin and fortepiano, with Gary Cooper - ongoing, current volumes 1-4
- Rameau's Pieces de clavecin en concerts, with Trevor Pinnock and Jonathan Manson
- Purcell's sonatas of 3 parts, with Pavlo Beznosiuk and Christopher Hogwood
