Skip to main content
My page Shopping basket

Oslo Circles 10 years!

Gruppe med forskjellige strengeinstrumenter Oslo Circles / Photo: Anna-Julia Granberg Blunderbuss
Buy
Running
28. September, 18:30
Scene
Scene 2
Duration
2 h / 1 Break

Anniversary concert with critically acclaimed Baroque ensemble

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself tapping your foot to both rock and jazz beats when the critically acclaimed Baroque ensemble Oslo Circles demonstrates just how modern Baroque music can sound!

Ten years of energy and emotion

17th-century music that grooves?   You bet! There’s much to look forward to when Oslo Circles celebrates its first decade with a rich Baroque programme performed on period instruments. As always, expect drama, opulence, and creative energy – and featuring both well-known and lesser-known composers: Handel, Bach, Purcell, as well as Fux, Steffani, Strozzi and Fontana.

Popular hit with critics

Since its founding, Oslo Circles has been invited to festivals at home and abroad. In 2019, they were awarded the Critics’ Prize for best musical interpretation at the Varaždin Baroque Evenings in Croatia.

Oslo Circles is particularly well known for its collaborations with vocalists. The ensemble has released two CDs: One Charming Night (SIMAX) together with countertenor David Hansen, with music by Henry Purcell. Martin Anderson from klassiskmusikk.com wrote: “One of the most downright entertaining recordings I've heard in years.” In 2022, Lamento (LAWO) with soprano Marianne Beate Kielland was released to enthusiastic acclaim: “Pure magic. All albums should be like this,” wrote the reviewer at Vårt Land.

Musicians in circles

Oslo Circles was founded in 2015 by Baroque violinist Astrid Kirschner. She brings together top musicians from the international Baroque scene, assembling them in various constellations – or circles – as needed, hence the name Oslo Circles. Each ensemble member hails from a different country, contributing their own musical background, passion and above all, playfulness. Together, they breathe new life into old scores and reveal just how modern Baroque music can be.

Astrid Kirschner works as a violinist in the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra. For the anniversary concert, she has invited star singers including countertenor David Hansen, soprano Berit Norbakken and baritone Yngve Søberg. Together, they’re sure to bring a tear or two to the eye.

https://www.oslocircles.com/

What is Baroque music? Hide Show more

The Baroque period spans roughly from around 1600 to 1750 in European music history. Unlike Renaissance music, vocal music evolved from multiple voices to a single main voice, making the text more prominent. From 1600 onwards, an increasing number of instrumental works appeared outside church settings. This resulted in significant changes in the soundscape and also provided the opportunity to compose more complex works.

This period also saw the development of the basso continuo, by which accompaniment was more or less improvised and based on a written bass line. This formed the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of the music from this time, allowing for both playfulness and improvisation. This made the basso continuo essential for accompanied vocal music and thus the birth of opera, which has its roots in this exciting and creative period of music history!

Learn more about what makes Baroque music so electrifying in Astrid Kirschner's podcast Barokkpodden – available wherever you get your podcasts

Contributors

Astrid Kirschner, Baroque violin/artistic direction
Karolina Radziej, Baroque violin
Julia Beller-Boysen, Baroque viola
Gunnar Hauge, Baroque cello
Fredrik Blikeng, violone
Thor-Harald Johnsen & Thomas Boysen, theorbo
Luca Quintavalle, harpsichord
Mark Bennett, trumpet
Tomas Nilsson, percussion

Program

Henry Purcell: Suite fra Abdelazer Z 570 (rondeau – air – minuet – hornpipe – jig) 
 
Henry Purcell: Strike the viol Z323/5 (David Hansen) 
 
Giovanni Battista Fontana: Sonata seconda 
Barbara Strozzi: Chiamata a nuovi amori / Bel'occhi bel seno / Tra le speranze e l'timore (Berit Norbakken) 
Francesco Cavalli: fra Eliagabalo: «Misero» (David Hansen) 
Andrea Falconieri: Folias echa para mi Señora Doña Tarolilla de Carallenos / Ciaccona 
Agostino Steffani: Quanto care dal cor (Berit Norbakken og David Hansen)

 
Pause 

Johann Joseph Fux: «Turcaria» Partita a 3 
Georg Friedrich Händel: fra Messias HWV 56: «The trumpet shall sound» (Yngve Søberg)  
Arcangelo Corelli: Trio sonata op 2, nr. 12: Ciaccona 
Georg Friedrich Händel: «Eternal Source of Divine Light» HWV 74 (Berit Norbakken) 
Georg Friedrich Händel: Suite fra Rodrigo HWV 5:  
Gigue – Sarabande - Matelot  / fra Agrippina HWV 6: «Bel piacere» 
Georg Friedrich Händel: Fra Serse HWV 40: «Ombra mai fu» (Yngve Søberg) 
Georg Friedrich Händel: fra Serse HWV 40: «Crude furie» (David Hansen) 

 

Medvirkende

Astrid Kirschner, barokkfiolin/kunstnerisk ledelse
Karolina Radziej, barokkfiolin
Julia Beller-Boysen, barokkbratsj
Gunnar Hauge, barokkcello
Fredrik Blikeng, violone
Thor-Harald Johnsen og Thomas Boysen, teorbe
Luca Quintavalle, cembalo
Mark Bennett, trompet
Tomas Nilsson, perkusjon 

Price
490 kr