Jill Feldman
American-born soprano Jill Feldman is a leading artist in the field of baroque and classical vocal music. Critics are constantly lavishing praise on her and many reviews compliment her "special combination of absolute control and thinking musical personality", as well as her ability to communicate music of this period "with astonishing restraint and perfect diction." She pays close attention to the dramatic content, beauty and meaning of the text; add to this her agile vocal technique and one finds that it is in this particular style of music that she makes her greatest impact.
Nigel North
Nigel North was initially inspired into music by the early 60s instrumental pop group "The Shadows", and went on to study classical music through the violin and guitar, eventually discovering his real path in life, the lute, when he was 15. Basically self-taught on the lute, he has for some 20 years developed a unique musical life which embraces several and varied activities as a teacher, accompanist, soloist, director and writer. He has published a continuo tutor (Faber 1987) and made several solo CDs, including the critically acclaimed Bach on the Lute series for LINN Records. Together with Andrew Manze (violin) and John Toll (harpsichord) he formed the ensemble Romanesca; for ten years (1988-1998) they explored, performed and recorded 17th century violin chamber works, winning several international awards for their recordings.
In addition to these activities Nigel North also enjoys accompanying singers and is an enthusiastic teacher. For 20 years he was Professor of Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and from 1993-1999 was Professor of Historical Plucked Instruments at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. In January 1999 Nigel North began a new position as Professor of Lute at the Early Music Institute of Indiana University, Bloomington, in the USA.
Nigel North is also beginning to explore self-accompanied English Songs of the early 17th century. His current musical idols are the jazz duo "Tuck and Patti" in whom he finds the closest link to his own vision for the performance of solo song.
For further information -
www.o-livemusic.com/jill/index.htm