The Academy of Ancient Music is one of the world’s first and foremost period-instrument orchestras. Concerts across six continents and over 250 recordings since its formation by Christopher Hogwood in 1973 demonstrate the AAM’s pre-eminence in music of the baroque and classical periods. The orchestra takes its name from a London concert society which was established in 1726 for the purpose of studying and performing ‘old’ music—defined initially as music composed at least a century earlier, but soon to include more contemporary composers such as Handel.

The present-day Academy of Ancient Music is especially well known for its pioneering recordings under Christopher Hogwood. In addition to numerous recordings of baroque repertoire, especially Handel, the orchestra was the first to record all of Mozart’s symphonies on period instruments and has since recorded the complete piano concertos and symphonies of Beethoven. Richard Egarr succeeded Hogwood as Music Director in 2006, and his inaugural season won glowing praise from audiences and critics alike. The AAM is Orchestra-in-Residence at the University of Cambridge.