Refined music

On the occasion of Italy’s pre­si­ding over the work of the Euro­pean Union, Italy’s Em­bas­­sy in Ukraine and Italian Insti­­tu­te of Culture in Ukraine have es­tab­lished the 1st Festival of Italian Music Ba­roque in Ukraine (ITA­LIA FESTI­VAL BAROCCO). This crea­­ti­ve pro­ject includes 12 events, which till November 4 will take place in the leading cultural and educational institutions of Kyiv, including the National Philhar­mo­nic Society of Ukraine, the Na­tio­nal Preserve “So­phia of Kyiv/ St. An­drew’s Church,” Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University, the Tchai­kov­sky National Music Academy of Uk­raine, and National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy. The festival will feature noted Ita­lian ensembles and artists, in­clu­d­ing Accademia Bizan­tina, Festina Lente, Il Sogno Baroc­co, conduc­tors Stefano Montanari, Claudio Cavina, and Paolo Per­rone, so­loists Alessandro Carmignani and Raf­faele Pe (countertenors), etc. The art director of the festival is Nan­cy Milesis Romano.

The forum was opened at the National Philharmonic Society by Accademia Bizantina conducted by conductor and violinist Stefano Montanari. This ensemble was founded in 1983 in Ravenna. It specializes in performance of ancient music on unique instruments. The ensemble has a huge repertoire and many prestigious awards. At the concert in Kyiv the Italian artistes performed the program of sonatas and trio sonatas by Corelli, Locatelli, and Vivaldi, which are scarcely known or not known at all to Ukrai­nian audience. Owing to the virtuoso performance of the musicians, such as Tiziano Bagnati (theorbo), Fran­cesco Baroni (harp­sichord), Ana Liz Ojeda Hernandez (violin), Giovanni Sabbioni (violone), Marco Frezzato (cello) and maestro Montanari the audience seemed to make a journey to the romantic baroque time.

“This festival is a very beautiful and needed action,” correspondent-member of the Academy of Arts of Ukraine, member of the European Academy of Music Theater, well-known conductor and teacher Ivan HAMKALO is sure, “Today our audience is most­ly unfamiliar with this wonderful genre of baroque music. Students of conservatoire study something, some professional musicians perform single pieces, but I should admit that even for music lovers the baroque masterpieces are terra incognita. I recall when I was studying in Lviv, we performed some trio sonatas by Italian composers, but we didn’t have ancient instruments, like theorba (a string instrument of the 16th century, a bass variety of lute), and it was a totally different sound­ing. The concert which opened the festival brings us back to another time, pace of life, mentality, and even a different hall. When you listen to the music of baroque time, you feel the melodies which we have lost long ago. To listen and appreciate these melodies, the audience must be prepared. It is pleasant that people were listening attentively, and the full house is proof that our audience has been longing for great art. I want to note the wonderful performance of the works, a perfectly coordinated ensemble Accademia Bizantina and fantastic so­loist, violinist and conductor Stefano Montanari. They showed emotion, calmness, mood, and inspiration. The concert was wonderful and I am very grateful to its organizers. This year the season was powerfully launched by the National Philharmonic Society, which closely cooperates with the Italian Institute of Culture, and it is very good that the Embassy of Italy is a patron of such a large-scale creative project as the Festival of Music Baroque. I don’t recall the last time when so many performers of the world level came to our country. Yes, some performers have come to us on tours, but this is the first time when such large-scale concerts, lectures, and master classes are held in Kyiv. Such forums enrich our culture life, palette, and our nation – in terms of spirituality, education, and intellect.”

“We have prepared for Uk­rainian music lovers 12 diffe­rent events, including concerts, master classes, and lectures which represent the gems of the refined and enchanting baroque music,” director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Ukraine Nicola Franco Balloni told The Day. “These are works where baroque music reach­ed its bloom, music pieces by Vivaldi, Corelli, Pergolesi, and Mon­teverdi. I am sure that such crea­tive projects as ITALIA FESTIVAL BAROCCO can become an essential contribution in mutual cognizing and cultural enrichment between our countries and nations. For us, Italians, culture in all of its manifestations is the first and foremost instrument of foreign policy, these are new forms of dialog; it represents us as a nation that remembers its origins, honors the richness of former glorious times.”

“As an art director of the festival and musician, I am glad that I have the honor to present in Ukraine my colleagues who are going on many tours all over the world, presenting wonder­ful music achievements of the baroque time,” Nancy Milesis Romano underlined, “The idea of this forum was developed jointly with ROMA FESTIVAL BAROCCO, and while we were preparing the programs we wanted the Ukrainian music lovers to feel the beauty and emotionality of baroque music and Renaissance period.”

Incidentally, on October 31 Ms. Romano will deliver a lecture “Italian music oeuvre of baroque time” at Kyiv Mohyla Academy, and Prof. Antonio Marcellino will tell about the antique music instruments and how they have been preserved in the cultures of Middle Ages and Renaissance at the NMAU. On October 28 he will deli­ver a lecture “Music, images, and practice of performance in the 16th and 17th centuries. Music instruments in the opera Orpheus by Claudio Monteverdi.” The students and teachers won’t miss the master class on vocal per­formance of the works by Monteverdi (1567-1643) “Har­­mony of words,” and the broad audience – a concert in conservatoire “These sweet sufferings,” where the ensemble of ancient music Vox Animae (art director: Natalia Khmilevska), conductor Clau­dio Cavina, and soloists will perform. On October 30 the Philharmonic Society will hold a soiree under the title “This refined consonance. Art of Claudio Monteverdi.” The chamber choir Credo and instrumental ensemble L’Armonia Stravagante (conductor Claudio Cavina) will give a joint perfor­mance.

The forum will be closed on November 4 by ensemble Il Sogno Barocco: conductor Paolo Perrone, soloist Raffaele Pe (countertenor), and musicians: Andrea Bucarella (harpsichord), Gabriele Politi (ba­roque violin), Roberto Stilo (ba­roque contrabass), Francesco To­ma­­si (theorba), Rebeca Ferri (ba­roque cello). The program will feature works by Handel, Corelli, Gasparini, Bononchini, and the world premiere of trio sonata by Mannelli “La Foggia” will take place in the new time.