ALBION: English music for three parts

“Albion” is a celebration of the rich and diverse tradition of English music spanning several centuries. This new program is created by Leonardo García Alarcón and Rodrigo Calveyra especially for this festival. The repertoire for this evening includes works by some of the most renowned composers in English history, beginning with Thomas Tallis, a master of Renaissance polyphony. The journey continues through the Baroque period with pieces by Matthew Locke and Henry Purcell, both of whom contributed significantly to the development of English Baroque music. It will also explore the lively dance tunes of John Playford and the intricate style of Peter Philips. Adding to the richness of the program are works by Nicola Matteis and Alfonso Ferrabosco, whose Italian heritage influenced their contributions to English music, blending styles and expanding the musical horizons of their time. The program culminates with compositions by Georg Friedrich Händel, a German-born composer who made England his home and left an indelible mark on its musical landscape. “Albion” is an exploration of England’s musical heritage, celebrating the timeless beauty and enduring legacy of its greatest composers.

Leonardo García Alarcón

After studying piano in Argentina, Leonardo García Alarcón moved to Europe in 1997 and joined the Geneva Conservatoire in the class of harpsichordist Christiane Jaccottet. In 2005, he founded his own ensemble, Cappella Mediterranea, before taking over the direction of the Choeur de chambre de Namur in 2010. He quickly became a highly acclaimed conductor, thanks to his concert creations at Ambronay and his rediscoveries of little-known works by Sacrati, Cavalli, Draghi, Falvetti and D‘India. He is sought after by the greatest musical and operatic institutions: Opéra de Paris, La Zarzuela de Madrid, Le Grand Théâtre de Genève, Staatsoper Berlin, etc. He is a regular guest with Les Violons du Roy in Canada, the Radio France orchestra and the Gulbenkian Orchestra. After his triumphant direction of Rameau’s “Indes Galantes” at the Opéra Bastille, he was named best conductor in Forum Opéra’s 2019 awards.

His most recent successful productions include Lullys’ “Atys” (2022), Monteverdi’s “The Coronation of Poppea” (2022), and Monteverdi program “The 7 Deadly Sins” at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and the Berlin Philharmonic in 2023, as well as new collaborations with choreographers: Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for W. A. Mozart’s “Idomeneo” (2024) and Sasha Waltz for J. S. Bach’s “St John Passion” (2024).

In September 2022, a new chapter opens in his career with the premiere of oratorio “Pasión Argentina”, his first major contemporary composition. And since 2024 L. García Alarcón is director of La Cité Bleue, a 300-seat concert hall. L. García Alarcón is a Chevalier de l‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Rodrigo Calveyra

Iš Brazilijos kilęs Rodrigo Calveyra išilginės fleitos studijas baigė prestižinėje senosios muzikos aukštojoje mokykloje „Schola Cantorum“ Bazelyje, Šveicarijoje, tuo pat metu specializavosi viduramžių muzikoje Milane, „Civica Scuola di Musica“. Vėliau pratęsė studijas Vokietijoje, Trosingeno Aukštojoje muzikos mokykloje, kur įgijo korneto magistro laipsnį. R. Calveyra nuolat koncertuoja ryškiausiuose Europos senosios muzikos festivaliuose, prestižinėse koncertų ir operų salėse, kasmet dalyvaudamas apie 100 pasirodymų. Jis yra garsaus ansamblio „Cappella Mediterranea“ meno vadovo L. García Alarcón asistentas, nuolatinis šio ansamblio narys. Daugelį metų vadovavo ansambliui „Instrumentarium“ Brazilijoje, kur suorganizavo ir su ansambliu atliko daugiau nei 150 koncertų. Nuo 2013 m. R. Calveyra vadovauja Vilniuje įsikūrusiam senosios muzikos ansambliui „Canto Fiorito“ bei yra Tarptautinio Kretingos senosios muzikos festivalio įkūrėjas ir meno vadovas. Europoje ir Pietų Amerikoje kviečiamas groti kaip solistas, diriguoti kameriniams orkestrams, skaityti paskaitas ir vesti meistriškumo kursus. R. Calveyra yra įrašęs daugybę senosios muzikos albumų su tokiomis įrašų kompanijomis kaip „Sony“, „Harmonia Mundi France“, „Deutsche Harmonia Mundi“ ir kt.