Koopman, Ton (actually, Antonius Ger-hardus Michael)

Koopman, Ton (actually, Antonius Ger-hardus Michael), eminent Dutch organist, harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist, and pedagogue; b. Zwolle, Oct. 2, 1944. He studied musicology at the Univ. of Amsterdam (B.A., 1968) and took 1^st prize in basso continuo playing at the Brugge Harpsichord Competition (1968). He studied organ with Simon Jansen (solo examination with distinction, 1969; Prix d’Excellence, 1972) and harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt (solo examination with distinction, 1970; Prix d’Excellence, 1974) at the Amsterdam Cons. In 1968 he organized the chamber music ensemble Musica da Camera. In 1979 Koopman founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orch., which he led as music director and which he developed into one of the world’s outstanding early music ensembles utilizing period instruments in performances notable for their expressive musicality and informed scholarship. He also founded the Amsterdam Baroque Choir in 1992, which he led as music director. In addition to his conducting positions in Amsterdam, he also became co-chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orch. in Hilversum in 1994. He likewise served as prof, of harpsichord at the Royal Cons, of Music in The Hague. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Royal Concertgebouw Orch. in Amsterdam, the Gewandhaus Orch. in Leipzig, the North German Radio Sym. Orch. in Hamburg, the Mozarteum Orch. in Salzburg, and the Vienna Sym. Orch. As a scholar, he has contributed to various publications. Among his outstanding recordings are the complete organ works and cantatas of J.S. Bach. In 1994 he won the Prix de Γ Académie du Disque Lyrique, in 1995 the Premio Internationale Del Disco “Antonio Vivaldi,” and in 1997 the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire