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Our ensemble performs music from the Renaissance, the Baroque and the Classical Periods on a collection of historical musical instruments which encompasses over 170 violas da gamba, violins, violas and violoncellos and historical bows from between 1580 and 1780 by the finest makers from Italy, Germany, Austria, Flanders, Holland, France and England. The European Community awarded Orpheon a grant (Culture-2000, Mozart-Call) to present exhibitions, courses and concert series on the instruments of the collection in Austria during 2007. The Orpheon Foundation has established a permanent residence at the Castle of Kremsegg, Austria, from where it will carry on its cultural activities throughout Europe and overseas. Plans for 2008-2010 include exhibitions in numerous European venues, North- and South America.

The Castle of Kremsegg, Austria
Permanent residence of the Orpheon Collection

Biography of José Vázquez

Biography of the Members of Orpheon

In concert: Tenerife (E), January, 2006
Lúcia Krommer, Eva Fürtinger, Hector Castillo,
Vit Bébar, Susanne Braumann, José Vázquez

In concert: Segovia (E), March, 2005
José Vázquez, Lixsania Fernandez, Margit Meckel,
Christa Opriessnig, Lúcia Krommer

SELECTED PROGRAMMES

My First 300 Years: memoirs of a viola da gamba

A viola da gamba from 1500 tells the story of its life: a vivid narration of its birth in Brescia and travels in Italy, Spain, England, Germany, until the death of Carl Friedrich Abel in 1787. With projections of the works of art, historical monuments and personages that the viol saw during those first 300 years. (9 artists)
 
Music for a while

Designed as a house concert in Tudor England - the time of Shakespeare. Music by Purcell, Dowland, Byrd, Gibbons, Lawes, Morley. An evening full of atmosphere. (7 artists)
 
The Spanish Experience

The liturgical year, where each event is seen through the eyes of the church (the motets by Cristobal de Morales, Tomás Luís de Victoria) and of the people (the villancicos by Francisco Guerrero). The liturgical subjects are illustrated in accompanying slides of the finest Spanish and Italian painters from 1304 to 1610. (12 artists)

Felix Austria

The splendid musical heritage of the Austrian Court during the reign of Leopold I (1640-1705) and his sons: Sonatas, concerti grossi and vocal works by Biber, Muffat, Legrenzi, Fux, Bononcini, Attilio Ariosti, Marc' Antonio Ziani. (8 musicians)
 
Soirée at Esterhazy

Music for baryton, viola da gamba, viola and violoncello by Haydn, Lidl, Hammer and others - a delightful evening of eloquent chamber music. (3 musicians, CD available)
Concert at the Musée Calvet, Avignon, 2006

Music at Versailles

Instrumental music by Marais, Couperin, Forqueray (3 - 4 musicians) (Compact disc available)

Il Corteggiano: Music of the Italian Renaissance Courts

Venice, Florence, Ferrara and Mantova in music and projections. Singers, viola da gamba consort, harpsichord.
(7-10 musicians)

Mozart in London

The music that the eight-year old lad heard in London during his trip in 1764, described in the chronicles of the time. Music by Carl Friedrich Abel, Johann Christian Bach, Georg Friedrich Händel and others (5-6 musicians)

J. S. Bach: Sonatas for viola da gamba and obligato harpsichord
(Auf Deutsch)
His musical thoughts revealed - a complete performance with commentaries about Bach's musical language, symbolic figures, meanings of the key and time signatures. (2 musicians)

Concerto grosso

Concertos by Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Telemann, Handel, including some very rarely heard concertos for viola da gamba, viola d' amore and lute. (15 musicians)

Concertos for Viola da gamba and orchestra

Virtuoso music for one viola da gamba and chamber orchestra. (10 - 15 musicians)