Collegium Aureum

Founded: 1962 - Germany

The Collegium Aureum, a loose association of soloists and conservatory teachers, was founded in 1962 by the Freiburg (West Germany) based record company Harmonia Mundi. From the very beginning the ensemble has dedicated itself to the meritorious task of reviving historical performance practices in order to convey an impression of the music’s authentic sound. This “resurrected court orchestra” plays works of the Baroque, the Classical, as well as the Romantic periods on historical instruments.

The strings play on valuable original instruments from the 18th century, the winds of copies of old instruments, whereby an ideal balance of timbre is achieved. In accordance with early performance practice, the ensemble plays without conductor, being led by the concert-master as ‘primus inter pares’.

Numerous LP and CD recordings have made the Collegium Aureum well-known. Concert tours have led to England, France, Japan, Latin America, North Africa, the Netherlands, the USSR and the Middle East.