Portland Baroque Orchestra

Monica Huggett
Artistic Director

Monica Huggett was born in London and studied modern violin with Manoug Parikian at the Royal Academy of Music. When in her teens, she was introduced to the baroque violin; she felt an immediate empathy with the instrument and has since been one of its most fervent champions. She tours all over the world as soloist, director, and chamber musician, and she has recorded on the EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Philips, Virgin, Erato, and Decca labels with such orchestras as the Hanover Band, Raglan Baroque Players, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which she formed with former Portland Baroque Orchestra Artistic Advisor Ton Koopman in 1980 and led until 1987. Her latest recordings with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment include the complete violin concertos of Mozart and the Beethoven and Mendelssohn concertos. With Trio Sonnerie, she has championed the works of the French baroque masters, and she has recorded chamber works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven with the chamber ensemble Hausmusik. In addition to her busy performing and recording schedule, she is also Professor of baroque violin at the Hochschule für Künste in Bremen, Germany. Monica Huggett performs on a violin made in Cremona, Italy, in 1618 by Hieronymus and Antonius Amati. The 1995-96 season marked her debut as the first Artistic Director in the Portland Baroque Orchestra's history.

Monica's Recordings

Interview, Review and Press Comment

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