Once the world’s most famous recorder player, Frans Brüggen was also considered among the foremost experts in the performance of eighteenth century music. He studied the recorder with Kees Otten and flute at the Amsterdam Muzieklyceum. In addition, he took courses in musicology at the University of Amsterdam. At the age of 21, he was appointed professor at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and later held the position as Erasmus Professor at Harvard University and Regent’s Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, making him one of the youngest musical scholars of the time.
After finishing his studies he launched a major career as a virtuoso performer of music for the recorder. As a flute soloist, he was equally at home in performances of the Baroque masters and contemporary avant-garde composers. He also gave informative lectures and illustrative performances of recorder music in Europe.
In 1981, he founded the Orchestra of the 18th Century, which consists of some 60 members from 22 different countries. He conducted the orchestra he conducted with fine success on both sides of the Atlantic. Three or four times a year the orchestra assembles to go on tour.
The musicians, who are all specialists in 18th and early 19th century music, play on period instruments, or on contemporary copies. The wide-ranging repertoire this orchestra has recorded includes works by Purcell, J.S. Bach, Rameau, Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L.v. Beethoven, Schubert & Felix Mendelssohn. Many of their recordings have received international awards.
In today’s recording you can see Frans Brueggen conducting the Symphony #40 by Mozart.
