Paul Van Nevel (born 4 February 1946) is a Belgian conductor, musicologist and art historian. In 1971 he founded theHuelgas Ensemble,[1] a choir dedicated topolyphony from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Van Nevel is known for hunting out little known polyphonic medieval works to perform.[2]
He grew up in a musical family. From the age of 11 to 18 he used to sing four hours a day. His father played violin and encouraged his son to play every instrument in the house. While his father lovedWagner, his son Paul favouredBéla Bartók. His nephewErik Van Nevel is also a choral conductor.
From 1969 to 1971 he studied early music at theSchola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. There he founded the Huelgas Ensemble, taking the name from the famousCodex Las Huelgas at the Cistercian monastery near Burgos which Van Nevel visited as a 24-year-old. He was able to spend two weeks studying the manuscript with the aid of a recommendation letter from the Belgian authorities.
Van Nevel teaches at theConservatory of Amsterdam and has been guest conductor of theCollegium Vocale Gent, theNetherlands Chamber Choir and the choir of theNetherlands Bach Society. In 1994 he was awarded the Prix Paris in honorem of the Academy Charles Cros. His recordings with the Huelgas Ensemble received numerous awards including theDiapason d'Or in 1996 and theMIDEMCannes Classical Award for best choral music in 1998.[3]
Van Nevel is well known for his fondness for cigars, this interest finding musical outlet inThe Art of the Cigar (2011, DHM).[4]
In 1994 he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for stealing, in 1988, seven rare musical works in theMuseo Bibliografico Musicale di Bologna.[5]
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