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Rachel Podger

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Biography

Rachel Podger, Baroque violinist, is known for her highly accurate, virtuosic playing, outstanding musicianship and understanding of period style, and a cheerful, warm and decidedly non-stuffy stage presence.

Her father was British and her mother German. She was educated in Germany at a Rudolf Steiner school and studied violin. When she returned to England she continued violin studies with David Perry, then was admitted to the Guildhall Read more School of Music and Drama with Pauline Scott and David Takeno as her teachers. She asked to be allowed to study Baroque violin as well as the standard violin with modern set-up, but was told the only Baroque fiddle was already given out to another student. In addition, as she says, "It wasn't really the thing to do in your first year. You were supposed to establish your technique."

Rachel did not let this stop her. "So I got hold of an instrument and did it anyway." She surreptitiously took Baroque violin lessons with Micaela Coberti at the Guildhall.and often visited Cambridge where her brother, the singer Julian Podger, had founded a small ensemble called Trinity Baroque and gave her a chance to play some of the central Baroque repertory. From her second year on she continued to study with Coberti, "legally, as it were," she says. Her attraction to the Baroque instrument, she says, is the sonority of the gut strings, but she also says that the lighter, curved bow, which requires one to lift the bow and strike the strings, is more sensitive and more quickly exposes tiredness or stiffness, which is also true of the left hand fingering, typically played without vibrato.

At some point she realized she wanted to be a soloist, that she did not want to be part of a group of violinists in an orchestra (at least not on a back bench), an experience she was frequently encountering even while still at Guildhall as the word got out about her talents and skills.

With three friends, she started playing chamber music regularly and had unexpected success. "We didn't realize we were a group until we won a competition" she says of the group, which is called the Palladium Ensemble. It is a group with a unique sound since its bass part is played not by a harpsichord and cello, but by viola da gamba (Susanne Henrich is the gambist) or by one of a number of directly plucked instruments such as guitar, theorbo, or archlute, by William Carter. This gives the group a distinctive, oddly folk or country music sound. Palladium records on the Linn Records label of Scotland. In addition, she was one of the original members of Florilegium, a larger chamber ensemble specializing in seventeenth- to early nineteenth-century music.

Palladium and Podger as a soloist soon appeared on major stages in Europe. In 1996, Palladium Ensemble was a headliner in the prestigious international concert series Rising Stars, winning a standing ovation when it appeared in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Since then it has appeared in many European cities and festival sites, as well as in North and South America. It also frequently gives radio concerts.

In 1997, Podger was appointed Concertmaster (or "Leader") of The English Concert, one of London's leading period instruments orchestras, and played solo with it on many stops on its tour of Eastern Asia. She has a solo recording of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas on the Channel Classics label.

Rachel Podger plays a 1739 instrument made by the Genoese luthier Pesarinius. Read less

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1.

Grandissima Gravita / Podger, Brecon Baroque

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 39217 Release Date: 10/06/2017
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Tartini, Francesco Maria Veracini, Johann Georg Pisendel
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Brecon Baroque
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2.

Bach: The Art of Fugue / Podger, Brecon Baroque

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 38316 Release Date: 09/16/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Brecon Baroque

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3.

Bach: Solo & Double Violin Concertos / Manze, Podger, Academy of Ancient Music

Label: Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 1957155 Release Date: 05/27/2016 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Andrew Manze, Rachel Podger
Conductor: Andrew Manze
Orchestra/Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music

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4.

Biber: Rosary Sonatas / Podger

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 37315 Release Date: 10/09/2015 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Heinrich Ignaz Biber
Performer: Marcin Swiatkiewicz, Rachel Podger, Jonathan Manson, David Miller
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Vivaldi: L'Estro Armonico / Podger, Brecon Baroque

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 36515 Release Date: 03/10/2015 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Rachel Podger
Conductor: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Brecon Baroque
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Mozart: Complete Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin / Podger, Cooper

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 6414 Release Date: 11/11/2014 Number of Discs: 8
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Rachel Podger, Gary Cooper

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7.

Perla Barocca: Early Italian Masterpieces

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 36014 Release Date: 10/14/2014 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giovanni Battista Fontana, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Marco Uccellini, Dario Castello ...
Performer: Marcin Swiatkiewicz, Rachel Podger, Daniele Caminiti
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8.

Guardian Angel - Biber, Bach, Tartini & Pisendel / Rachel Podger

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 35513 Release Date: 11/12/2013 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giuseppe Tartini, Heinrich Ignaz Biber, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Georg Pisendel ...
Performer: Rachel Podger
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9.

J.S. Bach: Double & Triple Concertos / Podger, Bellamy, Pramsohler, Brecon Baroque

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 34113 Release Date: 06/11/2013 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Rachel Podger, Bojan Cicic, Alexandra Bellamy, Johannes Pramsohler
Conductor: Rachel Podger
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10.

Rachel - The Music I Love / Rachel Podger

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 6212 Release Date: 10/09/2012 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn ...
Performer: Rachel Podger, Gary Cooper, Jane Rogers, Trevor Pinnock ...
Conductor: Pavlo Beznosiuk
Orchestra/Ensemble: Arte Dei Suonatori, Holland Baroque Society, Brecon Baroque ...

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11.

All-Baroque Box (From Monteverdi To Bach) [50-CD Limited Edition]

Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg) Catalog: 001719702 Release Date: 09/25/2012 Number of Discs: 50
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Domenico Scarlatti, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi ...
Performer: Peter Harvey, Stephen Varcoe, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Michael Chance ...
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner, Paul McCreesh, Marc Minkowski, Trevor Pinnock ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Gabrieli Consort ...

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12.

Vivaldi: La Cetra / Podger, Holland Baroque Society

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 33412 Release Date: 06/12/2012 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Holland Baroque Society
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13.

Mozart: Duos For Violin & Viola K423, K424, Menuetto K487, Haydn: Duos 1 & 2 / Podger, Rodgers

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 32411 Release Date: 12/13/2011 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Haydn
Performer: Rachel Podger, Jane Rodgers
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14.

Mozart: Complete Sonatas, Vol. 3 / Podger, Cooper

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 23606 Release Date: 11/09/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Rachel Podger, Gary Cooper
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15.

Bach: Violin Concertos / Podger, Brecon Baroque

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 30910 Release Date: 10/12/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Brecon Baroque
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16.

Purcell: Sonatas Of 3 Parts, 1683 / Beznosiuk, Coin, Et Al

Label: L'oiseau Lyre Catalog: 444449 Release Date: 05/08/2009 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Henry Purcell
Performer: Pavlo Beznosiuk, Christophe Coin, Christopher Hogwood, Rachel Podger
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17.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Pickett, New London Consort

Label: L'oiseau Lyre Catalog: 440675 Release Date: 03/17/2009 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: David Roblou, Daniel Yeadon, David Watkin, Richard Tunnicliffe ...
Conductor: Philip Pickett
Orchestra/Ensemble: New London Consort

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18.

A Choice Collection - Held By The Ears / Palladian Ensemble

Label: Linn Records Catalog: 324 Release Date: 08/01/2008 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Matthew Locke, Nicola Matteis, Thomas Baltzar, Anonymous ...
Performer: Susanne Heinrich, Rachel Podger, Pamela Thorby, William Carter
Orchestra/Ensemble: Palladian Ensemble

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19.

[the Versailles Collection] - The Sun King's Paradise & Les Elemens / Palladian Ensemble

Label: Linn Records Catalog: 323 Release Date: 08/01/2008 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Marin Marais, Jean-Féry Rebel, Estienne Le Moine
Performer: Susanne Heinrich, William Carter, Rachel Podger, Pamela Thorby
Orchestra/Ensemble: Palladian Ensemble
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20.

Spanish Gypsies - Celtic & Spanish Music In Shakespeare's England

Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Catalog: 77516 Release Date: 02/06/2008 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Robert Johnson, Anonymous, John Playford, Giles Farnaby ...
Performer: Michael Metzler, Lee Santana, Steve Player, Andrew Lawrence-King ...
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21.

Christmas Mass in Rome - Palestrina, Josquin / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort

Label: Archiv Produktion (Dg) Catalog: 437833 Release Date: 10/24/2007 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Josquin Des Préz, Anonymous, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Giovanni Palestrina ...
Performer: Timothy Roberts, Paula Chateauneuf, Hannelore Devaere, Jeremy West ...
Conductor: Paul McCreesh
Orchestra/Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Players
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22.

Haydn: Cello Concertos, Symphony No 104 / Wispelwey, Et Al

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 6007 Release Date: 10/10/2006 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer: Pieter Wispelwey, Ashley Solomon, Anna McDonald, Rachel Byrt ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Florilegium Ensemble
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23.

Mozart: Complete Sonatas For Keyboard And Violin Vol 2

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 22805 Release Date: 10/11/2005 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer: Gary Cooper, Rachel Podger
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24.

Vivaldi: La Stravaganza / Rachel Podger, Arte Dei Suonatori

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 19503 Release Date: 07/08/2003 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Arte Dei Suonatori
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25.

Vivaldi: La Stravaganza / Rachel Podger, Arte Dei Suonatori

Label: Channel Classics Catalog: 19598 Release Date: 05/13/2003 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Performer: Rachel Podger
Orchestra/Ensemble: Arte Dei Suonatori
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