A prominent advocate of early music and one of its most famous conductors, Christopher Hogwood, 73, died last week. He founded the Academy of Ancient Music in 1973, and was the artistic director of the Handel and Haydn Society from 1986 through 2001, remaining its conductor laurate. The Society's obituary said Hogwood "profoundly changed the direction and vision of this venerable institution, and added tremendously to its renown and international profile."
By completing its evolution in 1989 into an exclusively period-instrument orchestra and chorus, Hogwood ushered in a new and exciting chapter in the history of this 200-year-old organization. His 15-year tenure abounds with great artistic successes, from a splendid collaboration with the Mark Morris Dance Group in a production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, which toured to the Edinburgh Festival and elsewhere, to unique jazz partnerships with the Dave Brubeck Ensemble, Chick Corea, and the Marian McPartland Trio, among others.
"We are simply heartbroken by this news," said H+H Executive Director and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard. "Chris left a permanent footprint on this organization. We were very much anticipating his return in March to lead the Mendelssohn Elijah during the H+H Bicentennial. It’s a milestone that I know meant a great deal to him."
After leaving the Handel and Haydn Society in 2001, Hogwood became Emeritus Director of the Academy of Ancient Music, conducted Kammerorchester Basel, Tonhalle Zurich, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Athens Camerata. He made over 250 recordings, including the first-ever complete Mozart symphonies on period instruments.