BAROQUE ORIENTAL
Mediterranean on the Rise of the Baroque Age
"With the Pera Ensemble from Istanbul under the direction of Mehmet C. Yeşilçay, the sound patterns needed no translation. The melodies from old Europe and the mysterious Oriental were condensed into fairytale-like sound fables. The voices of the soprano Francesca Lombardi Mazzulli and the rising countertenor star Valer Barna-Sabadus unfolded above the immensely rich, refined instruments. (Tiroler Tageszeitung)
Oriental scents surround baroque melodies, Italian ornamentation embraces Ottoman melismas:
Cultures, religions and philosophies of the Mediterranean region meet musically on the threshold of the Baroque era. The passion of the passacaglias, madrigals and canzonas is just as compelling as the colourful compositions from the Sultan's palace.
"Baroque oriental" is an inspiring encounter of oriental and European instruments, crowned by virtuoso solo singing. Works by: Claudio Monteverdi, Maurizio Cazzati, Luigi Rossi, Giulio Caccini, Gazi Giray Han, Wojciech Bobowski alias Ali Ufki and others.
Cast: Ud, kanun, kemence, ney, shawm, viola da gamba, theorbo/baroque guitar, percussion, solo voice (countertenor or soprano)
Awarded Echo Klassik 2012 in the category Classical Music without Borders,
