Blog

Dec 12, 2010

According to Martin Haselböck, Music Director of Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Italy is not only the home of culinary delights like pasta and gelato but a sizeable portion – roughly 70% - of Europe's equally delectable artistic heritage as well. "Italy is the cradle of polyphonic music, opera, bel canto and the birthplace of the concerto," Haselböck explains. "In both vocal and instrumental music, Italian musicians were world champions."

Haselböck continues, "What we have done is combine several important examples of virtuoso concerti with some of the most exquisite arias by Vivaldi, Pergolesi and Antonia Bembo, who was not only a composer but a noted singer of the day," Haselböck says.
The program features Soprano Maria Jette and also Musica Angelica's concertmaster Cynthia Roberts, and Martin Haselböck on organ in Vivaldi's Double Concerto for violin and organ in d minor. Organists' Review recently described Haselböck's performance on organ as "a superbly accomplished presentation…This is music of the very highest order played by a virtuoso."