Baroque Masterpieces for Harpsichord

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Tuesday, January 14th, 2020
2:00 PM

Ruckers 1604 Harpsichord Recital

Internationally renowned early music specialist Marco Vitale presents an afternoon of baroque music on a beautiful Flemish harpsichord modelled after an instrument by Ruckers, one of the most important harpsichord and virginal makers in musical history.

The programme is as follows:

J. P. Sweelinck: Ballo del Granduca / Fantasia Chromatica

W. Byrd: Fortune * / La Volta *

J. P. Sweelinck: Paduana Lachrimae / Onder een Linde Groene

F. Richardson: Galliard *

M. Peerson: The Primerose * / The Fall of the Leafe *

W. Byrd: The Bells *

J. P. Sweelinck: More Palatino / Engelse Fortuyn

W. Byrd: John come kiss me now *

* from Fitzwilliam Virginal book

"Rather than trying to escape the musics stylised conventions, Vitale warmly embraces them and shares them with his listeners." Gramophone Magazine (UK)

Harpsichordist, organist, composer, and musical director Marco Vitale was born in Palermo, Italy. After finishing studies in his hometown, he attended the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague where he studied harpsichord with Ton Koopman and organ with Jos van der Kooy, graduating with a masters degree in Early Music. Throughout his career Marco has performed at the most prestigious venues and festivals throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

He is the co-founder and musical director of Contrasto Armonico, an ensemble specializing in Baroque operas and the performance of music in the Italian style, using period instruments and historically informed performance practices. In 2012 he founded his own record label ayros, which features recordings by Contrasto Armonico and other artists. In a collaboration with ayros, Marco is currently involved in recording the Complete Italian Cantatas by Handel, a thrilling project that will bring to light many undiscovered jewels of Handels which have yet to be either edited or recorded. Marco has appeared on several radio and TV broadcasts, including the specialized music channel Mezzo.tv. In addition to ayros, he has recorded for Alia Vox, Naïve, and Brilliant Classics.

Marco gives masterclasses in harpsichord and Early Music performance practice. He is the artistic director of the Arcadia Early Music Academy workshop in Poland and teaches at La Pellegrina summer school in the Czech Republic. He gives masterclasses, lectures and workshops at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Fondazione Paolo Grassi in Martina Franca (Italy), ESMUC in Barcelona, the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus, and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Since 2017 Marco has been the music director of the Denman Baroque Workshop & Festival organized by Andrew Fyson and Robert Newton, which takes place every spring on Denman Island, British Columbia.

Marco performs regularly with Jordi Savalls ensembles Le Concert des Nations & Hespèrion XXI.

The harpsichord used for this concert is a Flemish school harpsichord designed and built by Fabrizio Acanfora of Spain after the 1638 I. Ruckers double harpsichord.

Tickets available at www.brownpapertickets.com (search for harpsichord or Salt Spring) or at the door.