A footnote in the history of early music? On the contrary: for centuries, Central Europe has been a fascinating soundscape where traditions meet and musical practices from all corners of the globe resonate. Josef Žák and his Ensemble Castelkorn are the ultimate specialists in early music from Bohemia and Moravia. Their favourite treasure trove: the Kroměříž archive, a breathtaking panorama of 17th-century styles.
This repertoire demands attention, care, and love – it reveals its beauty only to those who have an eye for detail, are willing to search for colour, and dare to experiment. You can hear the result in three concerts by our artist in residence: Traces of Moravia starts with folk songs from the Janáček collection; in Schmelzer’s Playground, all the chairs are pushed to the side; and in Soave devozione, soprano Céline Scheen does a balancing act between local and Southern influences.
