Jordi Savall

Jordi Savall has spent decades shaping the landscape of early music through the revival of the viol family of instruments. Born in 1941 in Igualada, Spain, he established himself as a central figure in Western music, bridging the gap between medieval compositions and contemporary performance through his extensive research, conducting, and prolific recording career.

Training and Early Career

He furthered his formal training at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona between 1959 and 1965. His specialization in early music intensified during his tenure at the City of Basel Music Academy in Switzerland, where he studied under August Wenzinger. In 1974, Savall succeeded Wenzinger as professor of viola da gamba at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, marking a pivotal transition into academic leadership.

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Ensembles and Repertoire

The foundation of Hespèrion XX in 1974, which later became Hespèrion XXI, allowed Savall to explore a repertoire spanning from the medieval period to the Baroque. He expanded his reach by founding La Capella Reial de Catalunya in 1987 for vocal music and Le Concert des Nations in 1989 for orchestral work. His programming often integrates non-Western traditions, notably in projects like Orient-Occident and the documentation of slavery through African vernacular music.

Film and Legacy

The 1991 film Tous les matins du monde, featuring Savall’s arrangements of music by Sainte-Colombe and Marin Marais, significantly widened his public profile. The soundtrack became a commercial success, selling over a million copies and earning him a César award in 1992. Beyond film, he founded his own record label, Alia Vox, in 1998, which serves as the primary repository for his extensive discography of over 200 recordings.