Austria – Ottavio Dantone and Accademia Bizantina protagonists at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music
The 48th Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, one of the most historic and important festivals in the world, opened on July 21 and will run until August 30. This edition marks Ottavio Dantone’s debut as musical director of the festival, and Accademia Bizantina’s debut as orchestra in residence.
“A challenge and an honour”, Maestro Dantone declared after the appointment, “and the ideal situation to implement everything that represents my ideal in early music: experimentation, research, education, and a deep relationship between the musicians and the audience”. All points developed in the programme shared with the new artistic director Eva-Maria Sens, seeking “an open dialogue between the past and the present”.
Accademia Bizantina’s inaugural concert is on August 6: Il trionfo della Fama, “serenata per musica” in one act by Francesco Bartolomeo Conti, conducted by Ottavio Dantone. The choirs La Stagione Armonica and NovoCanto, and soloists Benedetta Mazzucato, Sophie Rennert, Nicolò Balducci, Martin Vanberg, and Riccardo Novaro perform with the orchestra (Haus der Musik, 8 pm).
On August 7, 9, and 11, Ottavio Dantone conducts Accademia Bizantina in the opera he has chosen for his first staged production as musical director, and which officially launches the festival’s opera series: Geminiano Giacomelli’s Cesare in Egitto. The direction is by Leo Muscato an the cast includes audience favourites such as Arianna Vendittelli, Margherita Maria Sala, and Filippo Mineccia (Tiroler Landestheater, different times).
Both appointments are preceded by ‘workshop concerts’ (Werkstattkonzerte). As a hybrid format that combines elements of a concert and a rehearsal, they are an opportunity to experience first-hand the compelling musical development of an ensemble and the production of a concert programme, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of the festival and creating a special connection between the audience and the artists on stage. The Werkstattkonzert «Cesare» took place on July 27, while «Famos!» is on August 3rd.
In 2024, the festival is also inaugurating a new series in its programme called Ottavio Plus, which is set to have a new edition every year: a chamber music concert in which the new musical director, along with musical friends and colleagues, will investigate the repertoire of ancient keyboard instruments.
On August 30, Ottavio Dantone and his long-time musical companion Alessandro Tampieri, Accademia Bizantina’s concertmaster and violin soloist, perform a programme honouring the virtuoso interplay of harpsichord and strings in 17th and 18th century music (Ambras Castle, 8 pm).
- Il trionfo della Fama
more - Cesare in Egitto
more - Ottavio Plus
more - info and calendar