Ton Koopman BiographyTON KOOPMAN Ton Koopman has been a familiar name on the international scene ever since the 1970s. He began his career by being twice awarded the Prix dÂ’Excellence for his performances on the organ and harp. The first orchestra he conducted was the Musica Antiqua of Amsterdam. In 1979 he founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, bringing together musicians from various parts of the world. 1992 saw the founding of the Amsterdam Baroque Choir (and the suspension of the Baroque OrchestraÂ’s activities). This choir consists entirely of young Dutch professional singers. One of the most prestigious prizes of Ton KoopmanÂ’s career is the 3M Prize, awarded to him in 1989 in recognition of his services to ancient music.
Further distinctions were the Crystal Prize of the Osaka Symphony Hall (1992) and the Edison Prize, awarded in 1993 for his CD recordings of Haydn’s Paris Symphonies on Erato. In March 1994 Ton Koopman won a Golden CD for his recording of Bach’s St Matthew Passion with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and the choir of the Netherlands Bach Society, a recording which also brought him the French “Prix de l’ Académie du Disque Lyrique”. Ton Koopman is frequently invited to conduct orchestras in all parts of the world. In the Netherlands he has performed the St Matthew Passion with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and has also appeared with the Residentie Orchestra. Since September 1994 he has been chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Chamber orchestra. In addition Ton Koopman teaches the harp at the Dutch Royal Conservatory in The Hague and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Recent recordings include Bach’s Mass in B minor, Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, concertos for organ and harp by Haydn, and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. In November 1994 Ton Koopman set himself and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir one of the most ambitious recording projects in the history of music: a complete recording of all the sacred and secular cantatas of J.S. Bach.
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