Jordi Savall Spanish composer and musician Date of Birth: 01.08.1941 Country: Spain

Jordi Savall: A Biography

Jordi Savall, whose full name is Jordi Savall i Bernadet, was born in 1941 in Igualada, Catalonia, Spain, in the midst of World War II. As a child, Savall displayed an incredible musical talent, which his parents recognized and nurtured. Despite the hardships of war, Savall continued his education and began singing in a children's choir at a local school in 1947.

In 1959, Savall enrolled at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music, where he studied cello. It was here that he met his future wife, the singer Montserrat Figueras. The couple married in 1968, but Savall's thirst for knowledge and exploration in music was far from satisfied.

While traveling throughout Europe, Savall stumbled upon a ancient musical manuscript belonging to the renowned composer Marin Marais. Intrigued by the instrument for which the composition was written, the viola da gamba, Savall made it his mission to master this forgotten instrument. He studied music at Ars Musicae Barcelona and later moved to Basel, Switzerland, where he continued his education at the prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

In 1974, Savall became a professor at the school, specializing in the viola da gamba. That same year, he founded his first ensemble, Hespèrion XX, along with his wife, Lorenzo Alpert, and Hopkinson Smith. The ensemble aimed to perform early music with a modern twist.

In 1987, Savall established another ensemble called La Capella Reial de Catalunya, focusing on the performance of seventeenth-century and earlier music. Two years later, he formed the baroque orchestra Le Concert des Nations, which continues to perform a repertoire of primarily baroque works.

Savall's discography includes around 100 recordings, with many released on his own label, Alia Vox. In recognition of his contributions to Catalan culture, he received the Premi d'Honor Lluís Carulla in 2000 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Barcelona in 2006. He has also been nominated for Grammy Awards twice.

In 2008, Savall was appointed as a cultural ambassador for intercultural negotiations by the European Union. His wife, Montserrat Figueras, was included in the UNESCO's list of Artists for Peace. Savall has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Handel Music Prize, National Music Prize from the National Council of Music and Arts of Catalonia, and the MIDEM Classical Award for his album "Jerusalem – La ville des deux Paix: La paix céleste et la paix terrestre."

In addition to his performances and recordings, Savall has also composed soundtracks for films, including "César," for which he received multiple awards. Other notable film scores include "All the World's Mornings," "The Bird of Happiness," "Marquise," and two installments of the film "Jeanne la Pucelle."

Today, Jordi Savall continues to perform extensively, often accompanied by his wife and two children, Arianna and Ferran. His dedication to early music and his contributions to the cultural world have solidified his status as one of Spain's most celebrated composers and musicians.