Europa Galante was formed in 1990 by Mr. Biondi to draw the international public’s attention to a new and definitive Italian presence in the interpretation of music from the Baroque and Classical eras on original, period instruments. Their first recording together, of Vivaldi’s concertos, received the Premio Cini of Venice, the Choc dé la Musique, as well as a number of additional awards such as five Golden Diapasons, Golden Diapason of the Year in France, the RTL Prize, Prix du Disque as well as Record of the Year nominations in Spain, Canada, Sweden, France, and Finland. The ensemble has been nominated twice for Grammy Awards, in 2004 for its disc of Vivaldi's Concerti con molti strumenti and in 2006 for its recording of Vivaldi’s Bajazet. Upcoming recording projects include Vivaldi arias with mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux and a Vivaldi compilation, La Stravaganza. Since 1998, Europa Galante has recorded exclusively for the Virgin Classics label. The group has performed in many of the world’s major concert venues including La Scala Theatre in Milan, Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Musikverein in Vienna, as well as in New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney. The ensemble’s repertoire ranges from the operas of Handel and Vivaldi and the oratorios of Scarlatti to the great instrumental works of the 18th century. This season, Europa Galante is performing extensively in Europe, including appearances in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and The Netherlands. In 2010, Europa Galante will tour a program of arias with tenor Ian Bostridge.
Born in Palermo, Italy, violinist Fabio Biondi began his international career at the age of twelve, when he performed his first solo concert with the RAI Symphony Orchestra. Moved early on by an inexhaustible cultural curiosity, he was introduced to pioneers of the new approach to Baroque music, an opportunity that would expand his musical vision and change the direction of his career. When Mr. Biondi was sixteen, he was invited by the Musikverein of Vienna to perform Bach's violin concertos. Since then, he has performed with ensembles including Cappella Real, Musica Antiqua Wien, Seminario Musicale, La Chapelle Royale, and Les Musiciens du Louvre all of which specialize in the performance of Baroque music using original technique and instruments. In 1990, Fabio Biondi founded Europa Galante, an ensemble that has become one of the most internationally renowned and awarded Italian ensembles of Baroque music. He has collaborated as soloist and conductor with many orchestras, including the Orchestra of the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Rotterdam Chamber Orchestra, the European Baroque Orchestra, the Opera of Halle, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestre Nationale of Montpellier, and the Orchestra Ciudad de Granada, among others. Mr. Biondi frequently performs in duo with piano, harpsichord, or fortepiano in prestigious venues around the world including Cité de la Musique in Paris, Hogi Hall in Tokyo, Auditorium Nacional in Madrid, and Wigmore Hall in London.
Paola Poncet has been Europa Galante’s harpsichord player since 2003 and has frequently partnered with Fabio Biondi in duo appearances. With Europa Galante, Ms. Poncet has performed in many prestigious concert halls worldwide and recorded several CDs with Virgin Classics. Ms. Poncet received her music degree in 1992 at Turin’s Conservatory in Italy, where she studied harpsichord with Giorgio Tabacco. Ms. Poncet continued her studies while on a De Sono Association scholarship at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where she concentrated on Baroque music under the guidance of Ton Koopman, and received a solo performer’s degree in 1996. In that same year, she won first prize at the Bologna Harpsichord competition. Over the years, Ms. Poncet has delved deeper into performance of Baroque music through master classes with renowned Baroque interpreters such as Bob van Asperen, Christiane Jaccottet, and Jesper Christiensen. Paolo Poncet teaches at the Reggio Calabria Conservatoire in Italy.Program Information
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
EUROPA GALANTE
Fabio Biondi, Director and Violin
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN Ouverture à quatre in F Major
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN Concerto for Flute, Violin, Cello and Strings in A Major, TWV 53
GIOVANNI BATTISTA SAMMARTINI Sinfonia in G Major, JC 39
PIETRO NARDINI Concerto for Violin in A Major, Op. 1, No. 1
ARCANGELO CORELLI Concerto grosso in B-flat Major, Op. 6, No. 11
PIETRO ANTONIO LOCATELLI Concerto grosso, Op. 1, No. 5
Tickets: $58, $64
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Monday, February 1, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Weill Recital Hall
FABIO BIONDI, Violin
PAOLA PONCET, Harpsichord
ANTONIO VIVALDI Sonata in G Minor, RV 40
FRANCESCO MARIA VERACINI Violin Sonata in G Minor, Op. 1, No. 1
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord in G Major, BWV 1021
PIETRO ANTONIO LOCATELLI Sonata in D Minor, Op. 6, No. 12
CARLO-AMBROGIO LONATI Chaccona
Tickets: $46
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Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
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Images from release: Europa Galante (© Europa Galante), Fabio Biondi (© Europa Galante), Paola Poncet (Courtesy of Carnegie Hall)