Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

La Fontegara is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of early music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The group was founded in 1988 by a group of musicians who shared a passion for historical performance practices and the exploration of early music repertoire. The founding members of La Fontegara were flutist Pedro Memelsdorff, harpist Mara Galassi, and lutenist Massimo Lonardi. The group took its name from a treatise on music by Spanish composer Francisco de la Torre, which was published in 1557 and included instructions for playing the recorder. From its inception, La Fontegara was committed to the use of historical instruments and performance practices, which meant that the group had to do extensive research into the music and culture of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. This research included studying original manuscripts, treatises, and other historical documents, as well as experimenting with different instruments and playing techniques. One of the highlights of La Fontegara's early career was their performance at the Festival Oude Muziek in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1990. This festival is one of the most prestigious early music festivals in the world, and La Fontegara's performance was well-received by both audiences and critics. Over the years, La Fontegara has performed at many other major festivals and concert series, including the Boston Early Music Festival, the Tage Alter Musik festival in Regensburg, Germany, and the Festival de Música Antiga de Barcelona. The group has also toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. In addition to their live performances, La Fontegara has also recorded several albums of early music repertoire. Their first album, "La Fontegara: Music from the Spanish Renaissance," was released in 1991 and featured music by composers such as Diego Ortiz, Francisco Guerrero, and Alonso Mudarra. This album was well-received by critics and helped to establish La Fontegara as one of the leading ensembles in the early music field. Other notable recordings by La Fontegara include "La Fontegara: Music from the Italian Renaissance," "La Fontegara: Music from the Spanish Baroque," and "La Fontegara: Music from the French Baroque." These albums showcase the group's versatility and expertise in a wide range of early music styles and genres. In recognition of their contributions to the early music field, La Fontegara has received several awards and honors. In 1993, the group was awarded the prestigious Premio Nacional de Música de España, which is the highest honor for musicians in Spain. They have also been awarded the Diapason d'Or, the Choc de la Musique, and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, among other awards. Despite changes in personnel over the years, La Fontegara has remained committed to their mission of exploring and performing early music repertoire with historical instruments and performance practices. The current members of the group include Pedro Memelsdorff on recorder and direction, Mara Galassi on harp and direction, and Manuel de Grange on lute and theorbo. La Fontegara continues to perform and record music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and their contributions to the early music field have helped to inspire and educate generations of musicians and music lovers.

More....