Capricorn (ensemble)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Capricorn

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| origin = London, United Kingdom

| genre = Classical and contemporary

| years_active = {{start date|1973}}–{{end date|2000}}

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Capricorn was a mixed chamber ensemble based in London and active in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A125|title=Capricorn|website=Hyperion Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822230807/https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A125|archive-date=22 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019}} Founded by the cellist Timothy Mason, clarinettist Anthony Lamb and pianist Julian Dawson-Lyell (who took the name Julian Jacobson in 1983), the original lineup was augmented by the violinist Monica Huggett to perform Messiaenʼs Quartet for the End of Time which featured in their London debut concert at Wigmore Hall in January 1974.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ez1JfIVM4ykC&q=capricorn+ensemble+wigmore+hall+1974&pg=PA368|title=International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory: (in the Classical and Light Classical Fields)|last=Cummings|first=David M.|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2000|isbn=0948875534|pages=368}}{{Cite news|title=London debuts|last=Morrison|first=Bryce|date=17 January 1974|work=The Times. Reviews.|issue=58990|location=London, England|page=7}}

The core ensemble of four players was frequently augmented by other instrumentalists to enable them to perform an exceptionally broad repertoire from the Viennese classics to contemporary music and commissions. Many prominent singers and conductors appeared with the group for works requiring larger forces. Notable performances took place at Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, St John's Smith Square, The Proms and the Queen Elizabeth Hall where in 1984 they gave a 10th anniversary concert, conducted by Lionel Friend, of music of the Second Viennese School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/257644673/?terms=Capricorn%2BEnsemble|title=Puzzling Pole|last=Walsh|first=Stephen|date=20 May 1984|work=The Observer|access-date=22 August 2019|location=London, England|page=20}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259715416/?terms=meirion%2Bbowen%2Bcapricorn|title=Capricorn|last=Bowen|first=Meirion|date=13 December 1982|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 August 2019|location=London, England|page=11}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/enqrzc|title=Prom 23, 7 August 1991|website=BBC|access-date=12 December 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259554936/?terms=Capricorn%2BEnsemble|title=Capricorn 10th birthday|last=Cole|first=Hugo|date=25 January 1984|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 August 2019|location=London, England|page=11}}{{Cite news|title=Concerts: Anniversary classics: Capricorn/Friend: Queen Elizabeth Hall|last=Pettitt|first=Stephen|date=25 January 1984|work=The Times|location=London, England|page=9}}

The group appeared regularly on radio and television throughout Europe and at festivals including those of Aldeburgh, Bath, Brighton, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and Huddersfield. Capricorn commissioned works from composers such as Harrison Birtwistle, David Bedford, Diana Burrell, Edison Denisov, Zsolt Durkó, James Ellis, Erik Hojsgaard, Anders Nordentoft, Nigel Osborne, Bernard Rands, Niels Rosing-Schow, Poul Ruders.{{Cite news|title=Twenty years of Capricorn|last=Murray|first=David|date=3 May 1994|work=Financial Times|page=13}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260216460/?terms=Capricorn%2BEnsemble|title=Capricorn|last=Bowen|first=Meirion|date=25 April 1991|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 August 2019|location=London, England|page=28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/artists/capricorn-ensemble|title=Capricorn Ensemble|website=Dacapo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822230336/https://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/artists/capricorn-ensemble|archive-date=22 August 2019|access-date=23 August 2019}}

Following the death in 1997 of Timothy Mason, who had acted as the group's unofficial artistic director, the group wound down its activities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-timothy-mason-5567815.html|title=Obituary: Timothy Mason|last=Campbell|first=Margaret|date=12 May 1997|website=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212135256/https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-timothy-mason-5567815.html|archive-date=12 December 2018|access-date=10 September 2018}}