This year, we welcome a truly special guest to the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht: a historic harpsichord from 1699, built by the Neapolitan master Giovanni Natale Boccalari. The instrument is in excellent condition and sounds as only centuries-old craftsmanship can sound.
The light construction and the use of Mediterranean woods give this harpsichord a direct, warm, and at the same time transparent sound, with an unprecedented sensitivity to nuance.
During nine concerts, the Boccalari sounds as a living witness to its time. On this instrument, we will primarily perform English music from the late Renaissance and early Baroque. This combination is a match made in heaven: early English instrument-making relied heavily on refined Italian designs. The masterpieces of the virginalists, such as Byrd, the focus this year, therefore fit perfectly with this sparkling, southern tone. The clear and immediate response of the Boccalari brings every detail of the lightning-fast runs and complex ornamentation flawlessly and transparently to life.
