Rejoicing in seven Camerata decades.
An unusually long and distinguished career, immersed at every moment in [early] music and the riches of musical history.
Some of the milestones:
1954, our birth year, under the auspices of a visionary woman, Narcissa Williamson, opening up the display cases at the Museum of Fine Arts, letting the precious early instruments be heard in concert; the revelation of a newly formed ensemble, gathered for that purpose
Front row, left to right: Janice Lourie, Narcissa Williamson, Judith Davidoff, Anne Gombosi, ?, Harold Brown
Back row: Carl Nelson? and David Fuller
Growth at the MFA (1955-1965)
Calling, in 1968, on a young composer-performer, fresh from his studies abroad, to direct the ensemble
First commercial recordings, also in 1968
Early press attention (1972)
A pioneering recording, A Medieval Christmas (1974) followed by national recognition
Incorporation as an autonomous entity, and a first tour in Europe (1974)
Back row: Sally Gordon, Kurt Hayashi, Barbara Lakeburg; Jane Shaw, Mark Baker, Rufus Hallmark, John Clarke, Eva Lindfield, Susane Lovell, Barbara Thornton, Deborah Prince, Peggy Tillinghart Wright
Front row: Joel Cohen, Laura Jeppesen, Jane Hershey, Alison Fowle, Phillip Long, Richard Cook
Defining the contours of early music performance in America (1979)
Touring starts in earnest: thousands of Parisians attending a week of sold-out performances at a major theater (1981)
Summer schools; growing pains and a difficult adolescence (1985-86).
Moving forward with new energy and new repertoires, casts (1986)
International major recognition for Camerata’s unique style of research and programming (1987)
Exploring bridges between European art music and oral and “popular” traditions; incorporating, when warranted, the talents of musicians from non-classical traditions into Camerata productions (1986 forward)
Exploration in depth, archival research and performance, of New World and early American repertoires (1989-forward)
Collaborating and performing with the surviving members of the Shaker Society (1994)
Intense and on-going recording activities (47 titles to date), expanding collaborations (2004 and forward), and touring (five continents), including major festival appearances, domestic and international
Photo credit: Ben Dunham
A new Artistic Director takes charge (2008)
Integration of young artists, amateurs, students, and collaborating ensembles, here and abroad
Extensive creation of new productions (eighteen, between 2008 and 2023);
A new emphasis on staged productions and music theater, (2014-23)
International touring, often in partnership with invited ensembles;
Increased emphasis on education and the training of the next generation of specialist performers;
Revisiting, revising, and reshaping core Camerata productions for the audiences of today;
Overcoming the challenges and obstacles of the COVID years (2020-2022) and, strengthened, moving forward with pride.
And so, we proudly announce our 2024-2025 Anniversary Boston season as well as international touring projects yet to be revealed, all with our superb teams of musical collaborators.
