Pamela Thorby
Over the last few years Pamela has quietly established herself as one of the world's leading recorder players. Her stylish virtuosity can be heard on numerous recordings of music ranging from the medieval period to the present day.
Pamela's Baroque Recorder Concertos disc (Linn CKD 217) received outstanding reviews - "a world-class performer" (Gramophone) - and was a Gramophone Editor's Choice. Her recording of Handel Recorder Sonatas with Richard Egarr (Linn CKD 223) - "set to become a benchmark" (The Independent) - was BBC Music Magazine ‘Chamber Music Disc of the Month'.
Pamela has appeared as concerto soloist and chamber musician with the Palladian Ensemble, English Concert, Sonnerie, New London Consort and many other eminent period and modern instrument ensembles and orchestras. She has toured extensively in major venues throughout the UK, Europe, USA, South America and the Middle and Far East. She has also featured on many film soundtracks and recordings for radio and television and has been interviewed and featured on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Radio 3's In Tune, CD Review and the Early Music Show. "Pamela Thorby's relaxed virtuosity disguises the immense difficulty of playing the humble recorder this well" (BBC Radio 3 CD Review).
Pamela was proud to be a member of the acclaimed Palladian Ensemble between 1991 and 2007. During that time the group achieved international success with over a thousand concert performances around the world and ten acclaimed albums with Linn Records.
As well as her ‘classical' playing, Pamela's ability to assimilate many styles of music and her skills as an improviser have led her to work with groups such as the jazz quartet, Perfect Houseplants; she guests on their album ‘New Folk Songs' (Linn AKD 130). Pamela is also a featured soloist on all of Karl Jenkins' million-selling ‘Adiemus' albums and on ‘Imagined Oceans', which was written especially for her. She also appears on Dame Kiri te Kanawa's EMI release ‘Kiri sings Karl'. Her appearances on these albums make her possibly the most listened to recorder player in the world.
Pamela began her career as a prize-winning student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) in London and then received a prestigious DAAD scholarship to study at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. Within a few years of graduating she returned to the GSMD to teach the recorder as a principal instrument and is currently a visiting professor.
For further information -
www.PamelaThorby.comAdiemus Fan Magazine"...it is rare to find an album that has been made by such a genuine and sincere attitude..."
more >>American Recorder Magazine"...lighthearted and engaging."
more >>The Consort"I highly commend this recording."
more >>StereoMojo"...this is one recording that is recommended to try."
more >>Klassik.com
"...stellen ein feines und zugleich frisches Programm in einer eigenständigen Perspektive vor."
more >>Toccata"...seine wahre Pracht ist."
more >>Atlanta Audio Society"It's as delightful a way to spend an hour's listening as I know of."
more >>MusicWeb-International"This is a fascinating and most enjoyable recital of music..."
more >>Opus Musica"Este trabajo es un placer para los sentidos."
more >>Hi-Fi Choice
An outstanding review for 'Garden of Early Delights'
more >>Hi-Fi & Musik'Hör du till dem som trodde att blockflöjt var enkelt att spela...'
more >>Crescendo"L’ensemble du programme baigne dans une séduction certaine faite de maîtrise technique..."
more >>Gramophone"This is Paradise indeed."
more >>Home Theatre Hi-Fi"...Thorby and Lawrence-King approach their virtuosic repertoire with consummate ease and joyful hearts."
more >>Scotland on Sunday"...there's no denying the quality of performance and works themselves."
more >>BBC Music Magazine"Thorby's playing exhibits a vitality, exuberance and earthiness..."
more >>Early Music Review"These are sparkling and fresh performances..."
more >>Ultra Audio"These works are played perfectly by Thorby and Andrew Lawrence-King..."
more >>High Fidelity
A fantastic review from the Polish audiophile publication
more >>Classic FM Magazine
"...pleasant and original...sensitively accompanied."
more >>The Irish Times"...sheer joie-de-vivre..."
more >>Classical Source"Harp and recorder is an irresistible combination"
more >>Bay Area Reporter"...a delight."
more >>International Record Review"...a very captivating collection...her execution is flawless..."
more >>Politiken (translated)"Go in, close your eyes and let your ears open out: It is refreshingly chirpy, and it is good to listen to at all hours."
more >>Politiken"Det er vederkvægende kvidren - og der er nok af det til både tidlig og silde!"
more >>Diario de Sevilla"...las más espectaculares disminuciones se combinan con las dulces melodías."
more >>The Telegraph"No connoisseur of recorder-playing or Renaissance instrumental virtuosity will want to be without this delightful anthology."
more >>Manchester Evening News"The recorder playing is virtuosic in the extreme..."
more >>The Scotsman"Freshness and spontaneity light up every moment."
more >>Financial Times"...this is music to warm the heart and delight the senses."
more >>Audiophile Audition"...she navigates the speediest complex ornamentation with aplomb."
more >>Gramophone Magazine - Awards IssueAn enchanting collection
more >>Daily Telegrapha thoroughly delectable disc
more >>BBC Music MagazineThorby's tone is silvery, alert and superbly recorded
more >>Early Music ReviewI can recommend this highly.
more >>GramophoneIt is some time since a recording of baroque ensemble music has given me so much pleasure and I strongly recommend you to share it...
more >>BBC Music MagazineA delightful disc.
more >>International Record Reviewdistinctive and individual readings
more >>Dr Peter Graeme Wolf...A real winner.
more >>Independent on SundayThere's little to fault on this beautifully played disc, and much to be relished.
more >>The ScotsmanA deliciously variable spread of music ...
more >>Independent on Sunday[a] wonderful artist at her very best
more >>The ConsortShe succeeds with flying colours.
more >>Early Music TodayIt's the sheer exuberence of her playing that makes the new CD Baroque Recorder Concertos such a delight.
more >>The Independentset to become a benchmark
more >>The Observera partnership made in heaven
more >>The HeraldA 'sparkling disc' from Pamela Thorby
more >>Music Weekthe highest level of artistry
more >>Inverness Courierexciting spontaneity
more >>Atlanta Audio Societyeuphonious, detailed and beautifully decorated performances
more >>Audiophile Audition...a fine program...
more >>
01 May 2010
England
Mayfield Festival, Mayfield
With La Serenissima - Vivaldi Concerti
03 May 2010
England, London
Wigmore Hall
John Blow's Venus and Adonis with Elizabeth Kenny directing
04 May 2010
England
Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton University, Southampton
John Blow's Venus and Adonis with Elizabeth Kenny directing
15 May 2010
England, London
Lufthansa Festival of Baroque MusicVivaldi Concertos with La Serenissima
21 May 2010
England, London
St John's, Smith Square, London
Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music
31 May 2010
Europe
Versailles, Paris
Handel Aci Galatea e Polifemo
31 May 2010
Europe
Versailles, France
with the English Concert
04 July 2010
to
07 July 2010
Europe
Genova, Italy
exact date tbc: 2010 summer Festival of Genoa, Turin and Savona
08 July 2010
England
Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham
John Blow's Venus and Adonis with Elizabeth Kenny directing
09 July 2010
England
York Minister, York
Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Vespers and instrumental piece
16 July 2010
to
18 July 2010
England
York Early Music Festival, York
exact date tbc: John Blow's Venus and Adonis with Elizabeth Kenny directing
10 December 2010
England
Music at Oxford, Oxford
John Blow's Venus and Adonis with Elizabeth Kenny directing