The Arcadia Players is an American chamber orchestra using

historically informed performance Historically informed performance (also referred to as period performance, authentic performance, or HIP) is an approach to the performance of Western classical music, classical music which aims to be faithful to the approach, manner and style of ...

to explore repertoire from the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

, Baroque, and Classical music, Classical eras. Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, the ensemble performs throughout New England.

Background

Founded in 1989 by Margaret Irwin-Brandon, the Arcadia Players holds a residency at the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies at UMass Amherst. The ensemble's website states they "embrace historical performance practice to illuminate and invigorate the great Western heritage of vocal and instrumental music." In 2006, the Arcadia Players released an album with Jaap Schröder, titled ''Trio Sonatas''. The ensemble partnered with The Shakespeare Concerts for several years, releasing three projects through Navona Records. The Arcadia Players has collaborated with several institutions throughout New England, including the Connecticut Early Music Festival, Dartmouth College, the Hartt School, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Yale University. Longtime artistic director, Ian Watson, stepped down in 2019. To open the ensemble's 30th Anniversary Season, Margaret Irwin-Brandon (Director Emerita) performed a program at Mount Holyoke College's Abbey Chapel. Woodrow Bynum led another program with the Choir of Men and Boys from Cathedral of All Saints (Albany, New York). The COVID-19 pandemic has limited operations, including the ensemble's search for a new artistic director.

Discography

* 2006: ''Trio Sonatas'' * 2014: ''Joseph Summer: Goddesses (Shakespeare Concerts Series, Vol. 3)'' * 2015: ''Joseph Summer: Full Fathom Five - Music on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' (Shakespeare Concert Series, Vol. 5)'' * 2018: ''Joseph Summer: No Enemy but Winter and Rough Weather (Shakespeare Concerts Series, Vol. 6)''

References

{{authority control Historically informed performance Early music groups 1989 establishments in Massachusetts Northampton, Massachusetts Musical groups from Massachusetts