The La Folia Barockorchester is a
Baroque orchestra
A Baroque orchestra is an ensemble for mixed instruments that existed during the Baroque era of Western Classical music, commonly identified as 1600–1750. Baroque orchestras are typically much smaller, in terms of the number of performers, than t ...
dedicated to
historically informed performance
Historically informed performance (also referred to as period performance, authentic performance, or HIP) is an approach to the performance of Western classical music, classical music, which aims to be faithful to the approach, manner and style of ...
. It was founded in
Dresden,
Saxony, Germany, in 2007 by Robin Peter Müller, who has been its artistic director and
concert master. Named after "
La Folia", it is focused on music that was performed at the
court of Dresden, which they have played at international festivals, and recorded.
History
The orchestra La Folia Barockorchester was founded in
Dresden in 2007, dedicated to
historically informed performance
Historically informed performance (also referred to as period performance, authentic performance, or HIP) is an approach to the performance of Western classical music, classical music, which aims to be faithful to the approach, manner and style of ...
.
Founder Robin Peter Müller is its artistic director and
concert master.
It is named after "
La Folia", a Baroque form inviting to bold creativity.
The orchestra is focused on the music of the 17th and 18th centuries,
such as works by
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread a ...
and
George Frederic Handel. The musicians from Dresden are especially interested in music performed at the
court of Dresden, including music by
Johann Adolph Hasse,
Johann David Heinichen
Johann David Heinichen (17 April 1683 – 16 July 1729) was a German Baroque composer and music theorist who brought the musical genius of Venice to the court of Augustus II the Strong in Dresden. After he died, Heinichen's music attracted little a ...
and
Antonio Lotti. In 2017, they made the first recording of rediscovered anonymous violin concertos, titled ''Rediscovered Treasures from Dresden''. The works were found in ''Schrank No. II'' behind the organ of the
Dresden Hofkirche, where they had survived several fires.
The cabinet contained manuscripts that
Johann Georg Pisendel, concert master of the Hofkapelle for 40 years, had made as copies when traveling and studying in Italy.
The musicians chose not to try to discover the identity of the composers, but let the music speak for itself.
A reviewer noted:
The size of the orchestra varies depending on the project, from a small ensemble to a
late-Baroque orchestra.
They have collaborated with notable soloists, including
Dorothee Mields,
Regula Mühlemann,
Hille Perl,
Simone Kermes
Simone Kermes (born 17 May 1965, in Leipzig) is a German coloratura soprano, especially known for her virtuoso voice, suited to the opera seria genre of the Baroque and early Classical period.
Career
Kermes has performed at many important ...
,
Dorothee Oberlinger,
Maurice Steger
Maurice Steger (born 1971 in Winterthur, Switzerland) is a Swiss recorder player and conductor, mostly in Baroque music.
Career
Maurice Steger is a frequent guest soloist with leading Baroque ensembles such as the Akademie für Alte Musik Ber ...
and
.
In 2021, a concert in the Basilica of
Eberbach Abbey as part of the
Rheingau Musik Festival presented music from Baroque opera, mainly Purcell's ''
King Arthur
King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...
'' and ''
The Fairy-Queen'', with four vocal soloists including
Anna Prohaska.
Titled "Glorious Revolution", it was aired live by many stations as part of the ARD Radiofestival.
Recordings
*2014: Vivaldi: ''Concerti furiosi''. Deutsche Harmonia Mundi/Sony
*2014: ''Concerti di Venezia'' by Vivaldi,
Nicola Porpora and
Benedetto Marcello. Sony Classical
*2015: Vivaldi: ''Le quattro stagioni''. Stockfisch Records
*2017: ''Cleopatra. Baroque Arias'' by Handel, Hasse,
Giovanni Legrenzi a.o., with Regula Mühlemann (soprano), Sony Classical
*2017: ''Händel'' with
Dorothee Mields and
Hille Perl, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi/Sony
Dorothee Mields & Hille Perl – Händel
(in German) jpc.de
*2017: ''Rediscovered treasures from Dresden'', Deutsche Harmonia Mundi/Sony
References
External links
*
*
pauleracoustics.de
{{DEFAULTSORT:Folia Barockorchester, La
Musical groups established in 2007
Music in Dresden
Early music orchestras
2007 establishments in Germany