The modern revival of The Academy, founded by Christopher Hogwood in 1973, created one of the first ‘period-instrument’ orchestras and is now renowned worldwide for its concerts and over 250 recordings of music from the Baroque, Classical and early Romantic eras. For choral works it is joined either by The AAM Chorus, Polyphony, or a cathedral or collegiate choir with boys’ voices.

The Academy of Ancient Music is especially well known for its pioneering recordings under Christopher Hogwood for Decca. The orchestra was the first to record all Mozart’s symphonies on period instruments and has since recorded the complete piano concertos and symphonies of Beethoven, and is part-way through recording the complete Haydn symphonies and the complete Mozart piano concertos with fortepianist Robert Levin.

Under Hogwood, The AAM has also made a number of opera recordings for Decca, in particular working closely with Cecilia Bartoli. Their prize-winning recordings include Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, Haydn’s Orfeo ed Euridice and, most recently, Handel’s Rinaldo which was awarded Gramophone (2001) and Cannes Classical (2002) awards.

In 1996, the artistic directorship of The AAM was extended with the appointment of Paul Goodwin as Associate Conductor and Andrew Manze as Associate Director, both of whom record with Harmonia Mundi USA. Andrew Manze’s recordings as soloist and director include violin concertos by Bach and Vivaldi, concerti grossi by Geminiani and Handel and the Bach harpsichord concertos with soloist Richard Egarr.

The commissioning of new works under Paul Goodwin represents a new development for the orchestra. The first commission and recording, Sir John Tavener’s Eternity’s Sunrise, met with enthusiastic critical acclaim and led to a second new work and recording, Total Eclipse. David Bedford’s Like a Strand of Scarlet followed in 2001 and, in 2003, The AAM will premiere John Woolrich’s Arcangelo, written to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the birth of Corelli. Other AAM recordings conducted by Paul Goodwin include Mozart’s Zaïde and Christmas music by Schüz and his contemporaries.

In recent years, The AAM has worked increasingly closely with the choirs of King’s College, Cambridge and New College, Oxford. This collaboration has resulted in discs of music by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi with King’s College choir under Stephen Cleobury, and two recordings with Edward Higginbottom and the New College choir: Marian Vespers by Pergolesi and Coronation Anthems, a collection of music from 17th- and 18th-century English coronations.

Highlights of the 2002-2003 season include 27 concerts across the USA, a tour to south east Asia, the continued residency at St John’s, Smith Square, London and the launch of a new series at West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge.

Looking ahead to The AAM’s 30th anniversary season in 2003-2004, plans include the start of a major exploration of Mendelssohn and his circle by Christopher Hogwood, and appearances by guest directors such as Richard Egarr, Stephen Layton and the violinist Giuliano Carmignola.