2023 Heinrich Schütz Prize Shared Between Two Ensembles

Roland Wilson's two groups, Musica Fiata and La Cappella Ducale, will receive the medal jointly

Founded in 2018 and awarded annually, the prize celebrates the work of ensembles in exemplifying the ideals of historically informed performance.

It has recently been announced that for the first time, two period-instrument ensembles will share the Heinrich Schütz Prize for 2023: Musica Fiata and La Cappella Ducale.

Founded in 1976 by Roland Wilson, Musica Fiata specializes in music of the 16th and 17th centuries and has made more than 30 CD recordings of this repertoire — on labels such as Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Pure Classics, and CPO.

In 1996, Wilson founded the vocal ensemble La Cappella Ducale as a companion group for the instrumental ensemble, and critics have frequently remarked on the homogeneity of sound that the two groups produce together.

Previous winners of the Heinrich Schütz prize include Hans-Christoph Rademann, Sir Roger Norrington, and the German publishing houses Bärenreiter and Carus.

"Thanks to decades of work by Roland Wilson, Musica Fiata and La Capella Ducale have a very special, almost sleepwalking, homogeneity in their interpretations," said Burkhard Schilgun, the chair of the selection committee.

"The constant research into historical sources goes far beyond the usual procedures of comparable historically informed ensembles. [They have exhibited a] spirit of courage and adventure in reconstructing works and programs — made as historically accurate as possible — that have either not survived at all, or have only survived in a very incomplete state."

"I have been dealing with the music of Heinrich Schütz for almost 50 years and his music has always been the focus of our repertoire," said Roland Wilson. "The many CDs we have recorded over the past 35 years document our views that the music works best for listeners (and also moves them the most) when it is performed using the stylistic means that are as close as possible to those that the composer intended."

"We are of course pleased that our many years of work is being recognized and is now being honored with the International Heinrich Schütz Prize."