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Hesperion XXI, led by viola da gamba player Jordi Savall, is the sort of vital and engaging early music group that seems destined to win new converts . . . it was an enchanting evening of passionate and lucid musical time travel The Los Angeles Times
Derived from "hespera," the Greek word for "west," is "Hesperia," the ancient name for the Italian and Iberian peninsulas in the westernmost part of Europe.
Inspired by the musical wealth of Hesperia, a group of virtuoso performers, including gambist Jordi Savall and soprano Montserrat Figueras, founded Hesperion XXI in 1974. Their goal was to explore the vast repertoire of Western European music - Spanish music in particular - written before the nineteenth century.
Such a wide repertoire requires not only a high level of instrumental and vocal virtuosity, but also a thorough knowledge of many styles and periods. Consequently, based on the requirements of each program, the core members of Hesperion XXI invite musical specialists of international stature to join them in performance.
Hesperion XXI has introduced many previously unknown works to audiences across Europe and America. Frequently heard at major international festivals and on television and radio broadcasts, the ensemble has dozens of recordings on EMI, Astree, Philips. Archiv, Auvidis and now on Aliavox.
Combining the imagination of 20th-century musicians with the historical knowledge of scholars, the members of Hesperion XXI have created an ensemble that is known for its dynamic performances and bold interpretations of an astonishing range of musical literature.