11 February 2009 A Walking Boot and a Compilation Emma reports on her progress and talks about her upcoming compilation box from BIS. 25 January 2009 Metatarsal Number Five Emma describes her recent foot injury and its effect on her schedule for the next few weeks. 4 January 2009 A Look Back at 2008 Emma remembers the people, places and concerts she experienced in 2008, and sends her best wishes for the new year. Includes photos! 20 November 2008 Christmas music with soprano Susanne Rydén and Bell'Arte Salzburg, directed by Annegret Siedel For three weeks leading up to the festive period, Emma, Susanne and the ensemble Bell'Arte Salzburg will be performing In Nativitate Domini, sacred duets and solos celebrating this happy time. They begin in Hamburg on 30th November, moving on to Barcelona on December 2nd, then (among others) Munich, Frankfurt, Bristol and York - finishing at St. John's Smith Square, London on Tuesday 16th December, with “...a banquet of pieces, some deep and plain, some tender and devotional, some filigree, some rustic, with threads of chorales and luscious string flounces, and a wondrous Biber Sonata in the centre.” [Photo of Susanne Rydén by Maria Lindwall] 20 November 2008 These are some of Emma's recent highlights Emma says “Six concerts in Toronto with Tafelmusik; a riot of orchestral colours, and the chance to relive some of my favourite pieces - recitals in Spain and a recording in Sweden of Dowland & Purcell, with Jakob Lindberg on his unique Rauwolf lute - and the Coffee Cantata in Istanbul!” 18 June 2008 Dame Emma Kirkby Awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Oxford Emma Kirkby's contribution to the field of music was recognised at the University's annual Encaenia ceremony in June 2008. With her fellow Honorands and senior members of the University, she processed through the City to the Sheldonian Theatre where she was admitted to her degree by the Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes. Read a transcript of the Public Orator's speech introducing her at the ceremony. 15 May 2008 Emma Kirkby continues her busy schedule of concerts, recordings and masterclasses As her performance calendar shows, Emma has a wide variety of appearances scheduled in the UK, Europe and Canada during the rest of 2008. She is also to be the guest presenter on BBC Radio 3 Requests, beginning on Sunday 8 June at 2 pm. Her plans for 2009 include a recording of Monteclair cantatas for the BIS label and, in October, a tour of the USA performing lute songs with Jakob Lindberg - so check for calendar updates and news-flashes as we receive confirmation. New features to be introduced on this website will include news-archive and calendar-archive pages. Previous News Items 16 June 2007 Emma Kirkby To Be Appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The announcement has been made that Emma is to be included in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, published on 16th June 2007. Arrangements for receiving the award are still to be finalised, but will take place within the next five months. Emma says “My greatest pleasure has always been to work collaboratively, drawing inspiration from musicologists, directors and colleagues both vocal and instrumental. I am deeply grateful for this honour, which I see as a celebration of the powers of ensemble, clarity and stillness, beyond those of volume and display.” 11 June 2007 “South Bank Show” Presented by Melvyn (Lord) Bragg Scheduled Programme Date: Sunday, 22 July 2007 (ITV1) Emma with Lord Bragg Television cameras followed Emma undertaking a wide variety of engagements during the month of May 2007; from coaching skilled amateur singers in Monteverdi madrigals in Udine, Italy – to performing Bach cantatas with the Purcell quartet, and Hildegard sequences in the beautiful setting of St. Bartholomew’s Church Smithfield, London. Other venues were Sherborne Abbey in Dorset (Couperin and Purcell duets with Miriam Allan, Charles Medlam and James Johnstone); Guildford’s Guildhall with Jakob Lindberg, and The Minstrel's Gallery Rotherfield with Anthony Rooley. View ITV's Coming Shows page. 24 May 2007 Article in the Daily Telegraph “The greatest soprano never to sing a note of Verdi”—Emma talks to Adam Sweeting about a life immersed in early music. 15 February 2007 Trip to China Announced Emma will be performing the Bach B Minor Mass with the International Festival Chorus on 20 October 2007. This will be her first performance in China; the trip will also include masterclasses and a recital with Jakob Lindberg on 26 October. 25 September 2006 Teaching in Sardinia Emma will be teaching in Sardinia in November 2006 with Jakob Lindberg and skilled amateur choir Lieti Cantores, singing Monteverdi madrigals at Meana Sarda. 18 April 2006 BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Interview Emma discusses what it is about the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire that she enjoys so much, and what aspects of the genre she thinks are important to pass on to the next generation of singers. Listen to the interview.