La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Following the model of the famous ‘Capelles Reials’ – the medieval royal chapel ensembles for which many sacred and secular masterpieces were composed on the Iberian Peninsula – Montserrat Figueras and Jordi Savall founded La Capella Reial in 1987. This ensemble was one of the first historically-informed vocal groups devoted to the performance of music of the Spanish Baroque (the so-called ‘Golden Age’) and to exclusively use Hispanic and Latin American singers. Since the Catalan State Government took over the support of the ensemble in 1990, it has been called La Capella Reial de Catalunya.
Its singers are committed to the rediscovery and performance of polyphonic vocal music from the Middle Ages and from the Spanish Golden Age, as well as other European music up to the 19th century. Historical performance practice always forms the basis of the ensemble’s interpretations. La Capella Reial de Catalunya has similar artistic aims to the instrumental ensemble Hespèrion XXI and combines high-quality, authentic execution appropriate to the style of the period with expressive delivery of poetic texts.
The ensemble’s extensive repertoire ranges from medieval music from the various Mediterranean cultures to the great masterpieces of the European Renaissance and of the Baroque. Other successes include performances of Baroque and Classical operas, and a diversion into contemporary music with compositions by Arvo Pärt. La Capella Reial de Catalunya featured on the soundtrack to Jacques Rivette’s film Jeanne la Pucelle (1994).
In 1992 La Capella Reial de Catalunya made its operatic debut, and was the choir for all performances given by the orchestra Le Concert des Nations. The ensemble’s wide-ranging discography of more than 40 albums has won numerous awards and prizes. Under the direction of Jordi Savall, La Capella Reial de Catalunya gives concerts worldwide, plays a major role in the work of the Centre Internacional de Música Antiga Foundation, and appears regularly at the most important international festivals of early music.
Supported by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and by the Institut Ramon Llull.