Baroque music “with a bang” in Innichen

 

The ensemble "II Botto Forte" performs musical works by J.S. Bach, G. F. Händel, Marcellos, G. Ph. Telemann and A. Vivaldi at the abbey church of Innichen.

 

By Verena Palfrader

 

The organization “Music Summer Pustertal” and the Brixner Initiative “Music and Church” in cooperation with the tourism association of Innichen have sent out invitations for the concert with the ensemble "II Botto Forte".  On the elevated stone block, above the crypt, one of the most significant sacral structures of Romanesque style in the Eastern Alps, musicians bring compositions by baroque masters to life. Under the motto "sacro-profano" secular and sacred works by J.S. Bach, G.F. Händel, A. Marcellos, G. Ph. Telemann and A. Vivaldi are performed and spiritual works sound earthly-sensual and profane works sound spiritually elevated.

 

Under the crucifixion group from the time around 1250, the concert starts with the  symphony for cantata "In the evening of that same Sabbath", an Easter cantata by J. S. Bach.

 

With a lot of zest and enthusiasm string players and woodwind players give a concert in "concerto a due cori" under the direction of the oboist and recorder player Shai Kribus.

 

In Händel's Concerto for Organ and Orchestra in F major, the instrumentalists shine, rejoice and improvise much like a flock of birds; Andrea Buccarella on the organ and harpsichord can especially impress the audience.

 

Rich in musical surprises is A. Marcello's Concerto for Oboe, Strings and Basso Continuo no. 2 in C minor.

 

At the beginning of the symphony to the cantata "Queen of Heaven, be welcome" by J. S. Bach, the musicians literally draw an angel ballet with their sounds,  which dances from cloud to cloud, accompanying the ascent of Mary into heaven.

 

The audience sways in the vivid parts of the Concerto for recorder, Viola da Gambe, strings and B.C. in A Minor by Telemann, the body-intensive play of the musicians is transferred to the sound and thus to the audience.

 

Particularly sweet and, yet intrusive is the sound of the Viola da Gamba, which Alexandra Polin engages in this part. At the end, Boris Begelman shines as a soloist in the Concerto for Violin, Strings and B.C. in D Major "Fetto per la Solennità della Santa Lingua di Sant'Antonio in Padova" by A. Vivaldi.

 

The combination of innovation, virtuosity and humor is one of the main features of the young baroque ensemble “II Botto Forte”, as it says about itself, of which the numerous concert audience in Innichen could become convinced. The strings, who also use bells to produce heavenly sounds, will stay the audience’s memory for a long time. It can be refreshed on November 15, 2016 at 6:30 pm, when the recording of the concert will be broadcast on the radio on channel ORF Ö1 on the program "old music – newly interpreted" (Verena Palfrader).

 

Picture caption:

"Il Botto Forte" in Innichen: spiritual works sound earthly-sensual and profane works sound spiritually elevated.