The Festival of Early Music
10. 07. – 26.8. 2012
Long ago - and far away
The Innsbruck Festival of Early Music
In line with its motto, ‘The Beauty of the Unknown’, the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music is all set to celebrate its 36th edition with a treasure trove of music and cultural gems from faraway lands. All the rage during the Renaissance and Baroque era among sovereigns and explorers, it is not surprising that composers, too, were intrigued and inspired by sounds, art forms and cultural traits until then practically unknown to them. Festival director Alessandro de Marchi invites the audience to join him on a magical journey of discovery, leading from China to Argentina.
The festival’s four opera productions are all of Italian origin, with the first performance ‘La Stellidaura vendicante’ (The revenge of Stellidaura) containing elements of folk music from Naples, the home town of composer Francesco Provenzale. Besides the vengeful Stellidaura also prince Paris of Troy will take to the stage of the Tyrolean State Theatre, to win over beautiful Greek goddess Helena in return for judging a beauty contest on Mount Olympus. Giovanni Andrea Bontempi’s ‘Il Paride’ will be presented by Austrian lutenist Christina Pluhar, who will come to Innsbruck with her ensemble L’Arpeggiata. With ‘La Dirindina’, composed by Domenico Scarlatti, the Innsbruck Festival continues its acclaimed tradition of presenting semi-staged productions in the Spanish Hall at Ambras Castle. In the framework of Baroque Opera:Young, Monteverdi’s opera ‘Lincoronazione di Poppea’ will once again bring festival flair to the courtyard of Innsbruck University’s theological department - following a successful debut in 2011 as an additional festival venue.
During the course of the Festival Concerts, musicians and audience alike will venture even further afield than Italy, setting out into a fascinating world of music with programmes titled ‘America Latina’, Baroque Oriental’, Scottish Tunes’, ‘Slav Dances’ and ‘Concert in the Forbidden City’, to name but a few. These programmes will be presented by renowned guests including Ensemble Elyma and soprano Deborah York, as well as the ensemble moderntimes_1800, one of several Austrian participants in the Innsbruck Festival.
The 49th Ambras Castle Concerts will once again be held on four consecutive Tuesdays during July 2012. Under the management of the Innsbruck Festival, the concerts will feature instrumental and vocal pieces performed by small ensembles. With music originating from Italy, England, Spain and the Pannonian region, the concert programme ranges from the Concerto Italiano to vocal music by Henry Purcell and Hungarian folk songs - a spirited repertoire bound to bring pep and passion to the venerable Spanish Hall of Innsbruck’s Ambras Castle.
The vocal protagonist in the musical excursion to Pannonia is singer Emöke Baráth, winner of last year’s International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera Pietro Antonio Cesti. An opportunity that will again be up for grabs for budding talents at the end of August 2012, when the Innsbruck Festival organizes this top-level contest for the third time. The outcome of the competition points already towards the 2013 edition of the Innsbruck Festival: The winners of the Cesti award get to perform in concerts and the Baroque Opera:Young project, setting the pace for the future of Early Music.
Information and advance ticket sales:
Innsbrucker Festwochen
Tel. +42-512-561561
Fax +43-512-563142
festwochen@altemusik.at
www.altemusik.at