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Erik van Nevel studied vocal and instrumental music at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven and at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and
Antwerp, and at specialist courses in the United Kingdom, Germany and The Netherlands. He is both founder and conductor of Currende, one of Europe's most highly regarded early music ensembles, appearing regularly at major
festivals. He was also choirmaster of Brussels Cathedral from 1983 to 2000, and there he founded the ensemble Capella Sancti Michaelis, and from 1980 to 1985 was assistant
conductor of the Flemish section of the Belgian Radio Choir. Currende's style of singing is characterised by its thorough approach to
performance practice and especially its lively delivery of musical texts, in XVI century polyphony as well as the Baroque and Classical repertoire. In addition to a special affinity with the capricious XVII century, Erik and his
ensemble are dedicated to revealing the fantastic yet far too little known heritage of the Flemish polyphonists. The ensemble breathes new life into this 'old music' with their captivating and original programming. Erik has led both Currende and the Cathedral choir on numerous CD recordings which have been very favourably received by the international music press. These recordings include works by
Carissimi, Lassus, Peter Philips, Schütz, Giaches de Wert, Frescobaldi, Domenico Scarlatti, the Bach family, Buxtehude, Hassler, Marenzio and a series of ten CDs providing a broad survey of the polyphony of the Low Countries. Erik is well-known as an inspiring teacher, and gives classes in choral conducting, chamber music and early music performance practice at the Lemmens Institute in Leuven. Each year he leads courses and master classes
for choral and ensemble singers, as well as conductors, focusing both on general choral and conducting technique and on more specific performance practices. Such courses have taken him to The Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Sweden,
Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia, France and the United Kingdom. Since 1994, Erik van Nevel and Currende have been accorded the title of 'Cultural Ambassador of Flanders' by the Flemish Community. currende@telenet.be |
