The situation of the L’Orfeo Baroque Orchestra as a prophet who receives little attention in their own country has unfortunately hardly changed and so the performance at the Brucknerhaus Sunday Matinee was one of the far too rare “guest performances” at home. Acclaimed across Europe, eulogized for their 25th anniversary complete recording of Schubert’s symphonies, this ensemble still doesn’t quite have a similar status at home.
But that may also be due to the “commissioned” programs. Of course, Michi Gaigg is a pioneer when it comes to the “Mannheim School”, which was the focus of this morning’s discussion. But with all the enthusiasm and skill in dealing with this contemporary phenomenon, which is referred to as pre-classic, it cannot be concealed that those composers experimented in all areas, but that the new seems not yet fully fermented. Whether symphonies by Johann Stamitz, Anton Fils, Franz Xaver Richter or Ignaz Holzbauer or Antonio Rosetti’s oboe concerto with Carin van Heerden as the convincing soloist, but also the Sinfonia Concertante for violin, viola, oboe and bassoon by Carl Stamitz – you will find them all captivating moments that often dissolve into musical triviality. Only an ensemble with the qualities of the L’Orfeo Baroque Orchestra and such intensive direction as Michi Gaigg can manage to inspire audiences with this repertoire for more than two hours. (wuss)
Source: Nachrichten
