Biography

"Exciting music - brilliantly played"

The Caecilia Concert is a versatile international ensemble specialising in performance and research of 17th century music for instruments and voices. The group was formed in 2001 by four young instrumentalists working at the forefront of authentic performance practice in Europe. Since then, the Caecilia-Concert has not only made a name for itself as a virtuosic, flexible, small-scale recital ensemble of the highest international level, but has on occassion, expanded to incorporate other instruments and singers performing rarely heard masterpieces from Italy, Germany, Austria and The Netherlands. This flexibility allows us to experiment with various mixed ensembles therefore making accessible newly found compositions and other pieces that would otherwise not be programmed due to mixed or more unusual instrumentation.

We hope to bring the excitement of hearing more rarely performed music to audiences everywhere while the distinctive sound of the Caecilia-Concert also naturally presents a new and exciting way of hearing some more familiar works.

Ongoing research in several European libraries has led us to find music which as well as stretching even the most virtuosic of players, also questions the technical limitations that have become widely accepted both in terms of what is possible in modern performance practice and the usage historically of these instruments.

Since 2001, the Caecilia-Concert has given recitals in Holland, France, Austria and the UK as well as broadcasts on ORF Austrian radio and BBC radio. In 2006 we launched our debut CD entitled 'Treasury of a Saint' which was received to critical acclaim and 2007 saw the release of 'Buxtehude & Co' which features rarely performed masterpieces from 17th century Germany. 2009 saw the launch of the group's latest recording, 'Schmelzer & Co'. More information about the group's past and present activities can be found on our About Us page.