One of the giants of the early music world, Hogwood is celebrated for his extensive catalogue for Decca’s L’Oiseau-Lyre label.

A tribute by pianist Robert Levin

Christopher Hogwood was a musical polymath whose work shaped our understanding of early music. An accomplished clavichordist, harpsichordist and fortepianist, and founder of the Academy of Ancient Music, he transformed Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society into a period orchestra and conducted numerous period and standard instrument orchestras worldwide. His repertoire interests extended into the present; among the 20th-century composers whose work he enthusiastically advocated was Martinů.

Through his prolific recordings of operatic, orchestral and chamber works, Hogwood was able to bring his message of historically-informed performances of 18th- and early-19th‑century music with the AAM and H&H, and of more recent repertoire through performances and recordings with the Kammerorchester Basel, to a global audience. Despite an active concert career he was able to pursue a broad spectrum of scholarly endeavours.

Recommended recording

Handel Messiah (remastered 2014)

Soloists; AAM / Christopher Hogwood

(L’Oiseau Lyre)