Laurence Cummings to become next music director of the Academy of Ancient Music

Laurence Cummings

The Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) has announced that Laurence Cummings [see my 2018 interview with him] will become its music director from the start of the 2021/22 season. Cummings is currently music director of the London Handel Festival, artistic director of the Internationale Händel-Festpiele Göttingen and music director of Orquestra Barroca Casa da Música in Porto. 

The Academy of Ancient Music was founded in 1973 by Christopher Hogwood (1941-2014), who remained music director until 2006 when Richard Egarr (previously associate director) was named music director and Hogwood named Emeritus Director. Richard Egarr's recent projects with the ensemble included the sponsoring of a new edition of Handel's Brockes Passion, along with a live performance and a recording [see my review].

The news of Cummings' appointment comes as AAM returns to live music, with a performance of Handel’s Messiah at the Barbican on 19 December 2020, as part of the Live from the Barbican concert series; Richard Egarr directs, with soloists Rowan Pierce, Iestyn Davies, Ben Johnson and Ashley Riches  The performance will take place in front of a socially distanced audience, and will be streamed online for digital ticket holders.

Further details from AAM's website.