John O'Donnell
John O’Donnell, Director of Ensemble Gombert, studied at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music in Sydney and at the University of Durham. After performing Bach’s complete organ works in 1974, he built an international reputation as an organist and harpsichordist.
John O’Donnell was born in Sydney and studied at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and the University of Durham. After performing the complete organ works of Bach in 1974, he built an international reputation as an organist and harpsichordist. In 1985 he followed this with the complete harpsichord works and the first Australian performance of the newly discovered Neumeister Chorales, becoming the first person ever to perform Bach’s total keyboard output—twenty-nine recitals in all.
In 1985 he was appointed Music Director of the Tudor Choristers of Melbourne, and in 1990 he founded Ensemble Gombert, a choir of sixteen voices devoted primarily to the music of the High Renaissance. As a senior lecturer in musicology at the University of Melbourne he published articles on performance practice, prepared an edition of the complete keyboard works of Johann Caspar Kerll, and completed a monograph on High Renaissance musica ficta.
His performances abroad have included recitals in Europe and ten tours of North America. He has also served on the juries of national and international competitions in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany.
Press quotes
His harpsichord playing, confident but more muted than we generally expect for seventeenth-century German harpsichord music today, emphasises the music's dignity and grace.
His performances are quite superb: powerful, energetic and crisp, and the listener is carried along by his infectious rhythmic sense.
One can but admire O’Donnell’s sensitivity, technical address and consistently thoughtful choice of registrations.
O'Donnell's technique is fluid and assured, and his registrations consistently give clarity and individuality to each separate voice.
John O'Donnell is featured on the following titles
Bach for Christmas
Celebrate this Christmas with Bach. For the first time, all of Bach’s organ music for Christmas is gathered on a single CD, chosen and performed by Australia’s John O’Donnell, a world-renowned Bach specialist.
Credit: Liner Notes
Bach: Clavierübung III, Schübler Chorales & Canonic Variations
In this special Bach anniversary year, Tall Poppies presents the first of two offerings of his work. Clavierübung III is regarded by many as the pinnacle of Bach's work for organ.
Producer: Co-Producer
Credit: Liner Notes
Sweeter than Roses
Some of Purcell's most famous songs are included in this collection, among them If Music be the Food of Love and Incassum Lesbia. John O'Donnell accompanies the renowned tenor Gerald English.
Johann Caspar Kerll
The late 17th-century composer Kerll left a large body of organ works, many recorded here for the first time by organist and harpsichordist John O'Donnell.
Co-Producer
John O'Donnell is featured on the following titles
Christmas to Candlemas
Ensemble Gombert is one of Australia’s finest choral groups. Directed by John O’Donnell – organist, harpsichordist and highly respected academic – the ensemble is known for historically informed performances of Renaissance and later choral repertoire.
Co-Producer
Credit: Liner Notes
Other credits
Il Diavolo
Accademia Arcadia, founded by harpsichordist Dr Jacqueline Ogeil, presents Italian baroque violin sonatas with improvising violinist Davide Monti, a regular guest with leading early-music ensembles.
Trio Sonatas
Four of Australia’s foremost early musicians join forces for Baroque trio sonatas by Corelli, Purcell and Leclair, in a programme that spans Italian, English and French styles.
John O'Donnell is a member of
Elysium Ensemble
The Elysium Ensemble has been acclaimed by critics for its exciting performances, fine musicianship and authoritative interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire on period instruments.
Capella Corelli
Capella Corelli, one of Australia's foremost baroque chamber ensembles, was formed 21 years ago. The violin works of the great Italian virtuoso Arcangelo Corelli and of his Italian predecessors were the initial inspiration for the group.
Ensemble Gombert
Ensemble Gombert is Melbourne’s outstanding chamber choir, noted for its pure intonation and historic approach to choral sound and style. Named after Nicolas Gombert (c. 1495–1560), it specialises in a cappella Franco-Flemish music of the High Renaissance.
