Biography
Anne Azéma stands out as a multifaceted performer who has excelled not only in singing but also in conducting, academic research, theatrical direction, and teaching. Her prominence among American listeners grew after she took over as music director of the Boston Camerata in 2008.
Born on October 19, 1957, in Niort, located in western France, she shifted her focus toward early music in 1993, a specialization she has maintained ever since. Within her native country, her expertise centers on the medieval vernacular songs from France and Provence. This area is highlighted in several of her solo albums, such as The Unicorn from 1994, Le jeu d'amour released in 1997, Provence mystique in 1999, and Troubadour Songs from 2011. Additionally, she released Etoile du nord in 2003, which features sacred compositions. Her performances have taken her across Europe, the United States, and Japan, and she established the ensemble Camerata Mediterranea. She has conducted masterclasses and seminars throughout the U.S., France, and the Netherlands, while also serving frequently as a lecturer at universities in America.
Prior to her formal association with the Boston Camerata, Azéma had already built recognition through individual recitals and group performances, having begun collaborations with the ensemble during the 2000s. She portrayed Mother Ann, leader of the Shaker community, in the 2004 multimedia production Borrowed Light, staged by the Camerata under choreography by Tero Saarinen; this experience expanded her engagement with both Shaker melodies and modern compositions. Assuming the position of artistic director for the Boston Camerata in 2008, she succeeded her husband Joel Cohen, who had directed the group since 1969. Cohen continues to participate on a limited basis, and the French authorities have honored both with the title of Chevaliers des Arts et des Lettres. Azéma maintains her presence in Europe by creating the Aziman Ensemble and arranging tours for the Camerata on that continent.
Under her leadership, the Boston Camerata has produced various albums, among them the 2019 release Free America!: Early Songs of Resistance and Rebellion.
Born on October 19, 1957, in Niort, located in western France, she shifted her focus toward early music in 1993, a specialization she has maintained ever since. Within her native country, her expertise centers on the medieval vernacular songs from France and Provence. This area is highlighted in several of her solo albums, such as The Unicorn from 1994, Le jeu d'amour released in 1997, Provence mystique in 1999, and Troubadour Songs from 2011. Additionally, she released Etoile du nord in 2003, which features sacred compositions. Her performances have taken her across Europe, the United States, and Japan, and she established the ensemble Camerata Mediterranea. She has conducted masterclasses and seminars throughout the U.S., France, and the Netherlands, while also serving frequently as a lecturer at universities in America.
Prior to her formal association with the Boston Camerata, Azéma had already built recognition through individual recitals and group performances, having begun collaborations with the ensemble during the 2000s. She portrayed Mother Ann, leader of the Shaker community, in the 2004 multimedia production Borrowed Light, staged by the Camerata under choreography by Tero Saarinen; this experience expanded her engagement with both Shaker melodies and modern compositions. Assuming the position of artistic director for the Boston Camerata in 2008, she succeeded her husband Joel Cohen, who had directed the group since 1969. Cohen continues to participate on a limited basis, and the French authorities have honored both with the title of Chevaliers des Arts et des Lettres. Azéma maintains her presence in Europe by creating the Aziman Ensemble and arranging tours for the Camerata on that continent.
Under her leadership, the Boston Camerata has produced various albums, among them the 2019 release Free America!: Early Songs of Resistance and Rebellion.
Albums
