The conquest of the new world: Concerto Köln makes its debut on the West Coast of North America (April 30th – May 3rd, 2010)

The Echo Classic and MIDEM Classical Award recipient, Concerto Köln, “goes west”: the internationally renowned, period instrument ensemble can be experienced from the 30th of April to the 3rd of May, 2010 during its tour to the West Coast of North America. Following an initial concert in the Canadian city of Victoria (April 30th), the orchestra proceeds onto sunny California – Berkeley (May 1st), San Diego (May 2nd) and finishes off in Los Angeles (May 3rd). The program includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Antoine Dauvergne (1713-1797), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Giovanni B. Sammartini (1698-1775). Concertmaster during the tour is Markus Hoffmann. The tour was made possible by the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office, the Goethe Institute and the Kunststiftung NRW – the Arts Foundation of North Rhine-Westphalia.

One of the most renowned ensembles for historically informed performance practice, Concerto Köln celebrates its 25th year of existence. Unique interpretations, cleverly-devised programs and the joy of discovery have always been trademarks of the ensemble. Described by the international weekly magazine, “Der Spiegel”, as a “small wonder made in Cologne”, the ensemble is invited to the great concert halls and opera houses as well as to the major festivals worldwide. Over the past several years Concerto Köln has also caused quite a sensation with its CD and DVD recordings. These include “reference” recordings such as Mozart´s “Le Nozze di Figaro” and “Così fan tutte” under the baton of René Jacobs as well as the 2008 complete recording release of “Wassermusik” by Händel. Moreover, Concerto Köln was able to significantly broaden the standard repetoire of the 17th and 18th centuries with re-discoveries and premiere recordings of Henri Joseph Rigel, Johann B. Vanhal, Jan L. Dussek, Antonio Rosetti and Joseph M. Kraus, among others. International recording awards such as the Grammy, Diapason d´Or, Cannes Classical and Midem Classical Award, German Critics’ Recording Award and Echo Classic attest to the importance of the ensemble within the music world.

In 2005, the 17 members of the democratically-led ensemble, Concerto Köln, chose their own flutist, Martin Sandhoff as Artistic Director. Together they work through the programs, determine ensemble size, concertmaster and guest musicians as well as engage conductors of distinction should the repetoire require. Such conductors have included Marcus Creed, Ivor Bolton, Daniel Harding und – as just recently in Paris – Michael Güttler, to name a few. In its anniversary year, Concerto Köln will perform yet again in numerous European countries, in Asia as well as in North and South America. The anniversary concert with Ivor Bolton is planned for the 7th of November in the Philharmonie Köln.

The leading High End Audio specialist, MBL, has been a partner of Concerto Köln since October 1st, 2009.

More infos under www.concerto-koeln.de

Tour dates on the West Coast of North America
30.04.2010 Canada Victoria, Alix Goolden Hall
01.05.2010 USA Berkeley, University of California
02.05.2010 USA San Diego, Irwin M. Jacobs Qualcomm Hall
03.05.2010 USA Los Angeles, Park Plaza Hotel Grand Ballroom
Concerto Köln
Markus Hoffmann, Concertmaster

Antoine Dauvergne (1713-1797): Quatrième Concert de Simphonie op. 4 No. 4 A-Major
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Brandenburgisches Konzert No. 5, BWV 1050 D-Major
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Concerto for Cello, Strings and B.c. Nr. 23 RV 407 d-minor
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Brandenburgisches Konzert No. 4, BWV 1049 G-Major
Giovanni Battista Sammartini (1698-1775): Sinfonie A-Major

OPHELIAS PR was founded in 2000 by Ulrike Wilckens and is a public relations agency specialised on consulting and media relations for culture and particularly for classical music and theatre. Some of our clients are the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the hr-Sinfonieorchester, the Bregenzer Festspiele, the International Musicfestival Heidelberger Frühling as well as the National Theatre Mannheim, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, EMI-Classics and musicians like Antoine Tamestit, Juliane Banse and Martin Grubinger.

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