Organization Member
Contact Information
(617) 262-2092
manager@bostoncamerata.orghttp://www.bostoncamerata.org
Boston, Massachusetts
Type of Organization
Performing EnsembleAbout
The Boston Camerata occupies a unique place in the densely populated universe of European and American early music ensembles. Founded in 1954 when the field was in its infancy, Camerata's distinguished rank stems partly from its longevity. But length of service by itself is not sufficient to account for Camerata's preeminence, nor are its numerous distinctions. The Boston Camerata has achieved its prominence in large part because of its willingness to engage meaningfully with many kinds of historical repertoires across the centuries, from the early Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, and from places and cultures from the Middle East to early New England with frequent stops in Renaissance and Baroque Europe and Latin America.
Under the leadership of Anne Azéma, The Boston Camerata continues to create new concert and recorded productions in Boston and elsewhere. These typically combine scholarship, much of it original, with high performance standards maintained by a distinguished roster of outstanding vocal soloists and instrumentalists. The Camerata has a rich history of collaboration with partners (at home and whilst touring) such as the Trinity Boston Choristers, the Longy School of Music of Bard College, the Tero Saarinen Dancy Company, SHARQ, and the Shakers, among others.
Camerata's productions regularly combine dramatic flair with a humane overarching perspective on the role music plays in (wo)mankind's search for meaning and fulfillment. In addition to live, often staged performances, The Boston Camerata has an extensive media catalog, including two critically acclaimed Harmonia Mundi CDs and seven trailblazing videos produced in-house during 2020 and 2021. Aside from its own Boston-area season, Camerata has performed at the American Academy of Arts and Science, to mark the re-opening of the Paris Notre Dame Cathedral (December 2024), and the Medieval Academy of America's Centennial Meeting (March 2025). Camerata has also been invited to perform at the 2025 Boston Early Music Festival (June). Performances outside the Boston area in 2025 so far include California, Oregon, Finland, France, Germany, and Austria. Camerata's signature approach is embodied in its touring, pedagogy, and media projects.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary season, the ensemble continues to win followers on five continents, presenting new projects while maintaining many of its historic programs.
We look to the past, in all its rich diversity, to better understand the present, to inform the future, and to encourage living human connection via the shared joy of great music.
