Vital Julian Frey, Hannfried Lucke, Orchester Le Phénix
Biography Vital Julian Frey, Hannfried Lucke, Orchester Le Phénix
Vital Julian Frey
The Geneva-born harpsichordist Vital Julian Frey is one of the most spectacular exponents of his instrument today. He received his training with Christine Schornsheim and Robert Hill. Christophe Rousset and Gustav Leonhardt were also formative influences.
Vital Julian Frey is a regular guest at internationally important festivals, including the Lucerne Festival, the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Bachfest Leipzig and the Mozartfest Würzburg.
An important concern of his is to reposition the harpsichord in the classical music scene. His workshops for children and young people, which he offers as part of concerts and with which he has already opened up a new approach to the harpsichord for many children, are particularly popular.
In addition to his musical focus, which ranges from early baroque to Viennese classical music, Vital Julian Frey is also involved in crossover, e.g. flamenco.
He also has a particularly close collaboration with the oboist Albrecht Mayer. He also cooperates regularly with the Festival Strings Lucerne and the Camerata Bern.
In spring 2021, his first album for Deutsche Grammophon will be released, featuring him as soloist alongside Albrecht Mayer with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Works by Mozart will be heard.
Vital Julian Frey has been artistic director of the Bachwochen Thun since 2016.
Orchestra le phénerix
Since 2000, the two cellists Mathias Kleiböhmer and Christine Meyer have been playing and organising projects under the name "le phénix", whether as a cello duo, chamber music ensemble or orchestra. Common to all projects is the demand for the highest musical quality, based on the findings of historical performance practice. All participants have studied modern as well as historical instrumental playing and bring diverse impulses into the work through their commitment to "le phénix". "le phénix" consists of a permanent ensemble that stands for quality and continuity. From this, chamber music ensembles are formed again and again for individual projects. The "orchester le phénix" has performed with soloists such as John Holloway, Heinz Holliger, Maurice Steger, Pierre Favre, Christophe Coin, Giora Feidman, Andreas Staier, Sergio Azzolini, Nuria Rial and Emma Kirkby. The orchestra regularly records CDs, and has twice been awarded the renowned Echo Klassik Prize for these (Duport Cello Concertos 2010, Wagenseil Cello Concertos 2016).
The "Prize for Professional Cultural Work of the Canton of Graubünden" also paid tribute. In collaboration with choirs and with the Chur Theatre (director Peter Konwitschny), "le phénix" proved its stylistic confidence and flexibility. The production with staged Bach cantatas was shown at the Theater Chur and at the Bergen International Festival (Norway). The work of "le phénix" is also documented in regular radio broadcasts of concerts. The latest CD with harpsichord concertos by Michel Corrette (soloist: Vital Julian Frey) will be released at the end of 2021. The soloist and orchestra will perform these works at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg on 3 January 2022.
