In the program Italian Virtuosos, the Castello Consort delves into the origins of instrumental music. Dario Castello, whose name the ensemble proudly carries, set the standard for virtuosic instrumental chamber music in 1621 with his sonatas in stil moderno. During this era, Italian composers began to push the boundaries of musical instruments. Many of these composers were accomplished musicians themselves and were eager to test and explore the technical possibilities of their instruments. Carlo Farina and Biagio Marini, for instance, were the first to compose double stops for the violin, while Dario Castello challenged trombonists and bassoonists with extremely virtuosic solo passages.
Improvisation also played a key role in the music of this period. Ornamentation and embellishments were a tool for performers to add a personal touch. Sometimes these improvisations went even further, in so-called diminution pieces: musicians would improvise elaborate variations on a well-known song or motet. The program therefore includes some diminution pieces; not only from the seventeenth century but also by the musicians.
“They surprise with a kind of baroque rubato, combined with freedom of tempi […]. Thus, the music breathes, as a living organism, that passionately -but peacefully- prevails.”
Praised for their lilting, expressive sound and harmonious interplay, the Dutch ensemble Castello Consort explores music from the renaissance and early baroque periods. The core of the ensemble is formed by Matthijs van der Moolen (sackbut), Anne-Linde Visser (bass violin, cello and viola da gamba), and Elise Dupont (violin). They are joined by guest musicians for each programme.
In their search for new timbres the Castello Consort initiated the building of a unique pipe organ, combining a historically accurate reproduction of a 1600’s Italian church organ with the transportability that is necessary for today’s performance practice. The many registers and extended mean tone tuning offer a whole new range of expressions. In July 2020 the Reil organ was premiered during a live radio broadcast on Dutch Radio 4.
For their debut-CD Fantastissimus, the ensemble collaborated with contemporary composer Martijn Padding. He composed a collection of pieces inspired by his seventeenth century colleagues: sometimes conceptual, sometimes theatrical, sometimes very close to improvisation, but always bold and unconventional. Interspersed with baroque works, Padding’s Stylus Phantasticus connects old with new music.
The ensemble has performed at the foremost international festivals, including the Utrecht Early Music Festival (NL), the Internationale Händel-Festspiele in Göttingen (DE), the Beverley Early Music Festival (UK), the Festival d’Ambronay (FR), the Festival Barocco è il Mondo (IT), the BRQ Festival (fringe) in Vantaa (FI) and the Kongsberg International Organ Summer (NO). Furthermore, the Castello Consort featured in prominent concert series in the Netherlands. In 2017 the ensemble was selected for the prestigious Eeemerging scheme, a programme supporting a small selection of the most promising young, European Early Music ensembles within the framework of Creative Europe. As part of this scheme, the ensemble was invited for residencies at the NCEM in York (UK) and Ghislieri Musica in Pavia (IT).
We are delighted about the cooperation with the Toni Jansen Foundation and the Sozialwerk Aachener Christen.
