Accademia Bizantina was founded in Ravenna in 1984.
Accademia’s music investigates the rules of the baroque stylistic language without any addition, elimination or change, relying on the sound of period instruments. This unique performing method began in 1996 with the appointment of conductor Ottavio Dantone. His method, honed by experience and an ongoing philological study, has allowed AB as an orchestra to approach any repertoire with awareness and honesty. Being able to convey the composer’s authentic intentions is an invaluable asset that has earned AB national and international recognition and collaborations.
Accademia Bizantina has recorded for Decca, Harmonia Mundi, Deutsche Grammophon, Naïve, Alpha, Onyx, HDB Sonus. It has earned prestigious awards such as Diapason d’Or, Midem, Choc di Classica, Opus Klassik, Grammy Music Award, Premio Abbiati della critica and Gramophone Awards.
Notable are the collaborations with violinists Viktoria Mullova and Giuliano Carmignola, countertenor Andreas Scholl and contralto Delphine Galou. In 2021 Accademia Bizantina was ranked first orchestra in Europe and second in the world at the Gramophone Awards.
Since 2024 Accademia Bizantina has been orchestra-in-residence at the Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, where the orchestra has been pursuing and furthering its exploration of the baroque repertoire.