Concerto Soave

In just a few years, Concerto Soave has become a leading reference in the interpretation of Italian music of the Seicento. Born from the encounter of soprano Maria Cristina Kiehr and harpsichordist Jean-Marc Aymes, the Ensemble draws together soloists specialised in the 17th century repertoire, essentially Italian. The ensemble takes the form of a Concerto in the historical sense: «an instrumental jewel case richly coloured (archlute, harp, viola da gamba, violins, harpsichord, organ...) destined to enshrine one or more voices». For their recital at The Shoe Factory on Tuesday 20 March, Concerto Soave will perform a programme dedicated to Italian Female composers of the Seicento. Works for voice and harpsichord by Isabella Leonarda, Francesca Caccini, Giovanni Pietro Del Buono, Barbara Strozzi, Caterina Assandra, Peter Philips, Giulio Caccini.

The emergence of female composers in Italy during the 17th century, as evidenced by the quality of music survived, is a unique phenomenon. Francesca Caccini, Caterina Assandri, Barbara Strozzi, Isabella Leonarda, Francesca Campana, are just a few of the composers (because there were so many performers, mostly singers) who had greatly enriched the musical landscape of the Seicento. Among them, two were religious (Leonarda and Assandri), which is why their work is only sacred. The others had published both sacred and secular works. This kind of artistic autonomy is associated with the development of monody (as opposed to the polyphony, which reigned during the 16th century). The Florentine Camerata, in their search for the power of ancient music, were the first supporters. It is not surprising therefore that the majority of the musicians of the Seicento were based in Tuscany.

Concerto Soave
In just a few years, Concerto Soave has become a leading reference in the interpretation of Italian music of the Seicento. Born from the encounter of soprano Maria Cristina Kiehr and harpsichordist Jean-Marc Aymes, the Ensemble draws together soloists specialised in the 17th century repertoire, essentially Italian. The ensemble takes the form of a Concerto in the historical sense: «an instrumental jewel case richly coloured (archlute, harp, viola da gamba, violins, harpsichord, organ...) destined to enshrine one or more voices». Every concert and recording of Concerto Soave, with L’Empreinte Digitale, Harmonia Mundi and editions Ambronay has been unanimously praised by audiences and critics alike. The ensemble is regularly invited to the most prestigious festivals: Utrecht, Ambronay, Montreux, Bruges, Innsbruck, Nantes (« La Folle Journée »), and performs in major European cities: Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Brussels, Berlin…as well as in the USA and Canada.

María Cristina Kiehr / soprano
Over a number of years, María Cristina Kiehr has come to be recognised as one of the greatest interpreters of baroque music. She combines suavity of timbre with an accurate respect for text, which she defends with warmth. Perhaps it is her Argentine nationality and her Danish origins which create a magical combination of warm Latin sensuality and great musical and stylistic rigour. Following studies with René Jacobs, she has participated in countless concerts and opera productions with the most renowned conductors (René Jacobs, Philippe Herreweghe, Franz Bruggen, Jordi Savall, Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt...), and with the most prestigious ensembles (Hesperion XXI, Concerto Köln, Ensemble 415, Seminario Musicale, Concerto Vocale, Elyma, La Fenice...). She has travelled around the world and has participated in more than one hundred recordings. Her passion for the Italian monody of the 17th century is fully expressed with Concerto Soave, of which she is co-founder with Jean-Marc Aymes. Maria Cristina Kiehr reveals her talents as a story-teller, careful to express the most minute details of the nuova musica, which makes her not only a singer with a unique timbre, but an accomplished artist.

Jean-Marc Aymes / harpsichord
Jean-Marc Aymes is one of the most brilliant harpsichordists of his generation. He is currently recording Girolamo Frescobaldi’s entire music for keyboard, the first volumes of which (Primo Libro delle Toccate and Capricci) have been received with critical acclaim by the international press (Diapason d’Or, Joker from Belgian magazine Crescendo, 5 Goldberg…). Jean-Marc Aymes is the artistic director and co-founder of Concerto Soave. Recordings for the Harmonia Mundi label have won a succession of international prizes. Aymes travels the world with Concerto Soave (Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, UK, USA, Canada...) performing in some of the most prestigious music festivals of early music. He has played with a wide range of early music ensembles, including Janequin, Talens Lyriques, Grande Ecurie, Daedalus and Akademia, and still performs regularly with the ensemble La Fenice, conducted by his great friend Jean Tubéry, also an Italian music specialist. He has participated in more than sixty recordings and innumerable concerts and radio broadcasts. He is also known for his contribution to contemporary music as a concert and recording artist with Marseille’ ensemble Musicatreize. He is currently the artistic director of the Centre Régional d’Art Baroque in Marseille.

Ticket Prices:
Adults: EUR25
Friends and Supporters of the Pharos Arts Foundation / Concessions: EUR20

Box Office: Tel: 7000 9304 - opening hours: 9.30 am - 11.30 am / www.pharostickets.org