Joachim Held

Joachim Held is a German lutenist celebrated for his virtuosic revivals of Renaissance and Baroque music. With a career steeped in historical performance, he’s become a go-to interpreter for intricate lute and theorbo works, blending scholarly precision with warm, lively expression. A graduate of the prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Held has dedicated himself to unearthing forgotten gems—from Bach’s lute transcriptions to Polish Renaissance pieces—turning them into vibrant, accessible experiences for modern audiences. His recordings, like *J.S. Bach: The Original Lute Works* and *Merry Melancholy: English Lute Music of the 16th Century*, showcase his knack for balancing technical brilliance with emotional depth.

When he’s not recording or touring, Held shares his expertise as a educator, teaching lute at institutions like the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. A winner of the Echo Klassik Award, he’s equally at home in solo recitals or collaborating with ensembles, proving that 16th-century tablature can still pack a punch. Whether he’s decoding Weiss sonatas or breathing life into Italian Renaissance tunes, Held’s passion for making old strings sing anew is downright contagious.

Genres

Medieval

Latest Release

Drei Laub auf einer Linden

Joachim Held

Single - Released December 22, 2023