Anne bio

a brief biography

Soprano Anne Azéma is reknowned for her superb performances of early music. She has been acclaimed by critics on four continents for her original, passionate, and vivid approach to songs and texts of the Middle Ages. She has also been widely praised in many other repertoires, from Renaissance lute songs to Baroque sacred music to twentieth-century music theatre.

Ms. Azéma's current discography numbers over twenty recordings. A featured soloist with The Boston Camerata , she has taken prominent roles in many of that ensemble's tours and Erato productions. Ms. Azéma has also recorded for the Harmonia Mundi, Nonesuch, and Bridge labels. She has been a soloist with numerous other ensembles, large and small, early and contemporary. Ms. Azéma is a founding member of the Camerata Mediterranea, touring with them in France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, the Netherlands, and the U.S., and appearing on both of that ensemble's Erato CD's.

Anne Azéma created the role of Iseult in the Camerata's celebrated production of Tristan et Iseult before international audiences and enthusiastic critics. The 1989 recording of "Tristan," featuring Miss Azéma as Iseult, won the Grand Prix du Disque just a few weeks after its initial publication. She has continued to tour with the role at international festivals.

She is frequently invited as a recitalist and often partnered in duos by lutenist Joel Cohen , touring with Mr. Cohen in North America, Europe, Africa, and Japan. Her teaching activities include master classes, notation seminars, and private coaching in France and the U.S. Anne Azéma's recent major festival appearances include Aix-en-Provence, Lourdes, Versailles, Spoleto U.S.A., Singapore, Jerusalem, Seville, Boston, Bergen, Morelia (Mexico), Dresden, and Tanglewood.

The Unicorn, Anne Azéma's first CD on Erato, won her a "Critic's Choice" in the English review Gramophone, and a nomination for the French Grand Prix des Discophiles. Her second CD, Le Jeu d'Amour, released in the spring of 97, became a U.S. bestseller, and won the coveted 10 rating from Répertoire magazine (Paris). In 2000, along with the other members of Camerata Mediterranea, she received the Edison Prize from the Netherlands for the accalaimed recording of Cantigas by Alfonso el Sabio.

Anne Azéma, dont le critique du "Volkskrant" d'Amsterdam a dit qu'elle se compare dans son champ d'action à Callas ou à Fisher-Dieskau, a été unanimement saluée par les critiques de quatre continents pour ses interprétations de musique ancienne et contemporaine. Elle travaille régulièrement avec la Boston Camerata et la Camerata Méditerranea (qu'elle a fondée en compagnie de Joël Cohen), se produit avec eux en concerts et enregistrements et est également artiste invitée de nombreux ensembles de musique de chambre. Ces dernières saisons l'ont vue soliste ou en récital aux festivals d'Utrecht, Singapour, Aix en Provence, Séville, Jérusalem, Boston, Tanglewood, Versailles, Tokyo, Dresden, et New York . Son premier disque récital, "The Unicorn," a été "Critic's Choice" de Gramophone, et nominé pour le Grand Prix des Discophiles. Son deuxième disque récital, "Le Jeu d'Amour" est paru au printemps 97. Elle enregistre régulièrement pour Erato (Grand Prix du Disque), Nonesuch, Harmonia Mundi.

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