Chiara Banchini

Composers

Biography

Born: 1946, Lugano, Switzerland   Country: Switzerland   Period: 20th/21st Centuries
Swiss violinist Chiara Banchini is the co-founder and leader of the period instrument group Ensemble 415, which takes its name from the pitch recommended in old Baroque-era treatises for the note A below middle C: 415 cycles per second.*

Banchini was born in Lugano, Switzerland and graduated from the Geneva Conservatory. Afterwards, Banchini studied with violinist Sandor Végh, but in the meantime had developed an interest in Baroque Read more violin techniques and decided to further her studies with Belgian violinist Sigiswald Kuijken at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Upon earning her diploma, Banchini accepted a teaching post at the Centre for Early Music in Geneva, and at this time she began to appear on the concert circuit as a solo artist. After Banchini relocated from Geneva to the Schola Cantorum in Basel in 1981, in her own words she "felt the need to fill a vacuum in the Swiss musical vista" and formed Ensemble 415, her period instrument orchestra playing at Baroque pitch, rather than at the modern A of 440 cycles per second. The band attracted an immediate following as a live group, but did not develop an international reputation until it reached an exclusive recording agreement with the French label Harmonia Mundi in 1989. In 1992 Banchini and Ensemble 415 scored a critical and commercial hit with their recording of Arcangelo Corelli's Concerti grossi, Op. 6. Even more popular, and to date the most famous of Ensemble 415's recordings, was the 1996 release of the Stabat Mater of Antonio Vivaldi with guest vocalist Andreas Scholl, who later toured with Ensemble 415 in this work and became a star in his own right.

Banchini has also recorded for the labels Erato, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Virgin, Accent, Astreé, and for the Zig Zag Territories label. Banchini plays a Nicola Amati violin, which was handcrafted in Italy in 1674.

* Actually about a half-step below the modern standard of A-440. ed Read less

Browse 1-25 of 27 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    La Musique De Watteau - The Music Lesson
    La Musique De Watteau - The Music Lesson
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 5908535 Release Date: 05/14/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Pietro Antonio Locatelli,  Alessandro Scarlatti,  Marin Marais,  François Couperin  ... 
    Performer:  Bernarda Fink,  Graciela Oddone,  Juan Manuel Quintana,  Dolores Costoyas  ... 
    Conductor:  Gottfried Von der Goltz,  René Jacobs
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Freiburg Baroque Orchestra,  Academy for Ancient Music Berlin
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  • 2.
    Italian Baroque - Sonatas Et Concertos / Chiara Banchini, Amandine Beyer
    Italian Baroque - Sonatas Et Concertos / Chiara Banchini, Amandine Beyer
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 316 Release Date: 01/08/2013   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Giuseppe Valentini,  Francesco Geminiani,  Nicolo Porpora,  Nicola Fiorenza  ... 
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini,  Stephanie Pfister,  David Plantier,  Odile Edouard  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini,  Amandine Beyer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415,  Gli Incogniti
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  • 3.
    Bach: Sonates Pour Clavecin Oblige Et Violon
    Bach: Sonates Pour Clavecin Oblige Et Violon
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 302 Release Date: 05/08/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini,  Jörg-Andreas Bötticher
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  • 4.
    Noel - Christmas Edition Sampler
    Noel - Christmas Edition Sampler
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2928223 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Xaver Gruber,  Heinrich Schütz,  Marc-Antoine Charpentier,  Arcangelo Corelli  ... 
    Performer:  Agnès [Soprano Vocal] Mellon,  Chiara Banchini,  Andrew Lawrence-King,  René Saorgin  ... 
    Conductor:  Uwe Gronostay,  René Jacobs,  William Christie,  Philippe Herreweghe  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concerto Vocale,  Les Arts Florissants,  Ensemble 415  ... 
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  • 5.
    Baroque - Bach, Blow, Charpentier, Corelli, Handel, Monteverdi
    Baroque - Bach, Blow, Charpentier, Corelli, Handel, Monteverdi
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2908510 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Marc-Antoine Charpentier,  Jacques Philidor,  Claudio Monteverdi  ... 
    Performer:  Marie-Ange Petit,  Agnès Mellon,  Guillemette Laurens,  Gregory Reinhart  ... 
    Conductor:  William Christie,  Nicholas McGegan,  Philippe Herreweghe,  Chiara Banchini  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy for Ancient Music Berlin,  Les Arts Florissants,  Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra  ... 
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  • 6.
    Lumieres - Music Of The Enlightenment [30-CD Set]
    Lumieres - Music Of The Enlightenment [30-CD Set]
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2908601 Release Date: 10/01/2011   Number of Discs: 30
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Christoph W. Gluck,  Jean-Philippe Rameau,  George Frideric Handel  ... 
    Performer:  Kobie van Rensburg,  Véronique Gens,  Patrizia Ciofi,  Marie McLaughlin  ... 
    Conductor:  René Jacobs,  William Christie,  Daniel Reuss,  Philippe Herreweghe  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concerto Cologne,  Cologne Collegium Vocale,  Berlin RIAS Chamber Chorus  ... 
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  • 7.
    Boccherini: Stabat Mater, Symphonies / Chiara Banchini, Agnes Mellon, Ensemble 415
    Boccherini: Stabat Mater, Symphonies / Chiara Banchini, Agnes Mellon, Ensemble 415
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 501933 Release Date: 07/12/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Luigi Boccherini
    Performer:  Agnès Mellon,  Chiara Banchini,  Enrico Gatti,  Emilio Moreno  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 8.
    Giorno E Notte: Concerti Per Flauto Del Signor Vivaldi
    Giorno E Notte: Concerti Per Flauto Del Signor Vivaldi
    Label: Divox   Catalog: 70804-6 Release Date: 05/31/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini,  Jörg-Andreas Bötticher,  Gaetano Nasillo,  Conrad Steinmann  ... 
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  • 9.
    Piano E Forte / Kiehr, Banchini, Hantai, Torbianelli
    Piano E Forte / Kiehr, Banchini, Hantai, Torbianelli
    Label: Glossa   Catalog: 922504 Release Date: 02/22/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Lodovico Giustini,  Alessandro Scarlatti,  Martino Bitti,  Francesco Barsanti  ... 
    Performer:  Edoardo Torbianelli,  Rebekah Rusò,  Maria Cristina Kiehr,  Marc Hantaï  ... 
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  • 10.
    Corelli: Concerti Grossi Op 6 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Corelli: Concerti Grossi Op 6 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 501406 Release Date: 07/13/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Arcangelo Corelli
    Performer:  Jesper Christensen,  Chiara Banchini
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini,  Jesper Christensen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 11.
    50 Best Baroque
    50 Best Baroque
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 57503 Release Date: 06/29/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Jeremiah Clarke,  John Dowland,  Henry Purcell  ... 
    Performer:  Crispian Steele-Perkins,  Gérard Lesne,  Susan Graham,  Christopher Robson  ... 
    Conductor:  Stephen Cleobury,  Richard Hickox,  Andrew Parrott,  Emmanuelle Haïm  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Fretwork,  Taverner Players,  Orlando Gibbons Viol Ensemble  ... 
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  • 12.
    Tartini: Concerti / Ensemble 415, Banchini, Gatti
    Tartini: Concerti / Ensemble 415, Banchini, Gatti
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 1951548 Release Date: 02/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Tartini
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini,  Roel Dieltiens,  Enrico Gatti
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 13.
    Albinoni: Sinfonie Op. 2 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Albinoni: Sinfonie Op. 2 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 90202 Release Date: 03/10/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Tomaso Albinoni
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 14.
    Couperin: Concerts Royaux, Pièces A 2 Clavecins /Smithsonian
    Couperin: Concerts Royaux, Pièces A 2 Clavecins /Smithsonian
    Label: Dhm Deutsche Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 77327 Release Date: 07/09/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  François Couperin
    Performer:  Stephen Hammer,  Konrad Junghänel,  James Weaver,  Christopher Krueger  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Smithsonian Chamber Players
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  • 15.
    Tartini: Sonate A Violino Solo, Etc / Banchini, Bovi
    Tartini: Sonate A Violino Solo, Etc / Banchini, Bovi
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 80502 Release Date: 07/08/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Tartini
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini
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  • 16.
    Vivaldi: Sonata A Tre
    Vivaldi: Sonata A Tre "La Follia," Etc / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 501366 Release Date: 04/08/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Käthi Gohl,  Chiara Banchini,  Véronique Méjean,  Jesper Christensen
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 17.
    Vivaldi: Concertos for 4 Violins from L'Estro Armonico / Banchini
    Vivaldi: Concertos for 4 Violins from L'Estro Armonico / Banchini
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 70902 Release Date: 02/12/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Chiara Banchini,  Stephanie Pfister,  Leila Shayegh,  David Plantier  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 18.
    Valentini: Concerti Grossi Op 7 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Valentini: Concerti Grossi Op 7 / Banchini, Ensemble 415
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 20801 Release Date: 12/31/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Valentini
    Performer:  Olivia Centurioni,  Odile Edouard,  David Plantier,  Stephanie Pfister  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 19.
    Hopkinson Smith Album
    Hopkinson Smith Album
    Label: Naive   Catalog: 8908 Release Date: 06/26/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Denis Gaultier,  Francisco Guerau,  Pierre Attaingnant,  Giovanni Kapsberger  ... 
    Performer:  Hopkinson Smith,  Roel Dieltiens,  David Courvoisier,  David Plantier  ... 
    CD: $12.99
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  • 20.
    Best Baroque 100
    Best Baroque 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 70907 Release Date: 08/29/2006   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Claudio Monteverdi,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Joao Domingos Bomtempo  ... 
    Performer:  Della Jones,  Arleen Augér,  Michel Sanvoisin,  Lionel Rogg  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Hickox,  Louis Auriacombe,  Michel Corboz,  Lajos Rovátkay  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  City of London Baroque Sinfonia,  Toulouse Chamber Orchestra,  Gulbenkian Foundation Symphony Orchestra Lisbon  ... 
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  • 21.
    1+1 Boccherini: Stabat Mater, Etc / Banchini, Et Al
    1+1 Boccherini: Stabat Mater, Etc / Banchini, Et Al
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2901933 Release Date: 08/08/2006   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Luigi Boccherini
    Performer:  Agnès Mellon,  Enrico Gatti,  Emilio Moreno,  Hendrike Ter Brugge  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 22.
    Century Vol 11 - The Italian Baroque Revolution (1600-1750)
    Century Vol 11 - The Italian Baroque Revolution (1600-1750)
    Label: Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 2908173 Release Date: 01/10/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Riccardo Broschi,  Giovanni Battista Sammartini,  Giuseppe Tartini  ... 
    Performer:  Bernarda Fink,  Christina Högman,  Gian Paolo Fagotto,  Jeffrey Gall  ... 
    Conductor:  René Jacobs,  Chiara Banchini,  Jesper Christensen,  William Christie  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415,  Academy for Ancient Music Berlin,  Les Arts Florissants  ... 
    On sale! $13.97
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  • 23.
    Pachelbel's Canon And Other Baroque Favorites
    Pachelbel's Canon And Other Baroque Favorites
    Label: Emi Classics Encore   Catalog: 57876 Release Date: 01/11/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Henry Purcell,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  George Frideric Handel,  Antonio Vivaldi  ... 
    Performer:  Alison Bury,  Andrew Lawrence-King,  Paul Goodwin,  Marion Verbruggen  ... 
    Conductor:  Andrew Parrott
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Taverner Choir,  Taverner Players,  Taverner Consort  ... 
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  • 24.
    Bononcini: La Nemica D'amore Fatta Amante / Banchini, Et Al
    Bononcini: La Nemica D'amore Fatta Amante / Banchini, Et Al
    Label: Zig Zag   Catalog: 30801 Release Date: 01/13/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giovanni Bononcini
    Performer:  Andreas Torgersen,  David Plantier,  Hendrike Ter Brugge,  Martin Oro  ... 
    Conductor:  Chiara Banchini
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble 415
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  • 25.
    Corelli: Sonate a Violino e Violone o Cimbalo Op. 5 / Banchini
    Corelli: Sonate a Violino e Violone o Cimbalo Op. 5 / Banchini
    Label: Harmonia Mundi Musique D'abord   Catalog: 1951307 Release Date: 10/10/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Arcangelo Corelli
    Performer:  Käthi Gohl,  Jesper Christensen,  Chiara Banchini,  Luciano Contini  ... 
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