Orchestra Breaks Baroque Music Out of the Box

The liveliest ensemble now on the international early music scene – The New York Times

One of the world’s most popular Baroque ensembles makes its Australasian debut during the New Zealand International Arts Festival in 2010 with its energetic interpretation of classical and contemporary music.

The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra from the south-west of Germany comprises specialist musicians who are determined to ensure classical music is alive and energized. They play historical instruments and their repertoire extends over 200 years.

“It is not every day that you get the opportunity to hear one of the finest period ensembles under the rigorous scholarship of Rene Jacobs. Featuring much-loved symphonies by Haydn and Mozart, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra will remind New Zealand audiences that music is most alive when approached with fresh vision,” says Lissa Twomey, Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.

The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra has collaborated with major artists and guest conductors in the world’s great concert halls. In Wellington they will perform at the Wellington Town Hall under the baton of René Jacobs from Belgium.

Jacobs has won many awards, first as a countertenor and now as a conductor. He has recorded operas and sacred and secular works from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and he regularly conducts the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and other high profile orchestras and opera in Germany and the Netherlands.

The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra will play two concerts during the New Zealand International Arts Festival. On March 17 they will perform Joseph Haydn’s Symphony in E flat major, Mozart’s Concerto No 4 in E flat major for horn and orchestra and Mozart’s Symphony No 38 in D major (“Prague”).

On March 18 they will perform Haydn’s Symphony in G major (“Oxford”) and Mozart’s Concerto in D major K 218 for violin and orchestra as well as Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”).

The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra is sponsored by the Friends of the Festival with support from the Goethe Institute.

WHEN: 17 & 18 March

WHERE: Wellington Town Hall

“…it was clear the audience would never get enough of these musicians.” Seattle Times

ENDS