When music imitates reality

Fernandez Blanco Museum in the Retiro of Buenos Aires houses the Hispanic-American art collection, but is also distinguished by its connection to music. Its halls house legendary violins by Italian luthiers.

The most magnificent of these is a Guarnerius , which has been preserved in immaculate condition. Perhaps this is why it has its own Baroque music ensemble called the "Capilla del Sol" (Sun Chapel), dedicated to the dissemination of South American colonial music.

Music as a Bridge – First Edition of the Baroque Music Festival of the City of Buenos Aires

It's no surprise, then, that Noel Palace , home to the museum, was chosen as the venue for the city of Buenos Aires' first Baroque Music Festival . The first concert took place on Saturday, August 9, at 4 p.m., and the last will be held on Sunday, August 17, at the same time. The program includes only five concerts, but it's extremely varied, bringing together the best of Baroque music from this region of the world, with Argentine, Chilean, and Uruguayan performers scheduled to perform. Tickets are inexpensive at €3 and can be purchased at the museum entrance before the concert.

It was an excellent decision to open the festival with Ensemble Fulmini . Founded in 2012, this ensemble, composed of teachers from the city of Rosario who specialize in the Baroque repertoire, plays on replicas of historical instruments. On this occasion, they presented the program "Música poética" (Poetic Music), whose goal is to transport the listener from winter to spring.

Henry Purcell 's semi-opera King Arthur . Vivaldi's "Winter" performed, preceded by a reading of the sonnet that inspired the composer. Antonio Vivaldi was one of the first to compose descriptive music. With his compositions, he aimed to imitate natural sounds and evoke moods. The music of the ensemble Fulmini painted a picture of winter, full of trembling, chattering teeth, and brisk walks through the snow.

Purcell's work "King Arthur" describes the battle between the Britons and the Saxons. At one point, the pagan spirits of the forest are invoked, including the Spirit of Cold. This was the second piece masterfully performed by the Ensemble Fulmini . The baroque oboe replaced the singer in the Song of Cold from Act III, a beautiful section that opened the suite on the opera "King Arthur ." Various pieces from the opera were then played, including the very successful "How blest are shepherds" and "Your hay it is mow'd .

Then came the highlight of the concert, a highly virtuosic interpretation of Vivaldi's "Spring ." The piece was a true delight; the trills of the opening Allegro were very well-executed, the Largo lively, and the concluding Allegro pastorale magnificent. The entire ensemble shone, and the audience celebrated with sustained applause. Gustavo Di Giannantonio , the solo violinist, delivered a precise and expressive interpretation.

The concert concluded with a piece by Telerman entitled "La Burlesque ." Telerman offered a meticulous musical depiction of the central figures of the Commedia dell'Arte. Oboe player Agustín Tamagno provided commentary, introducing each figure before the musicians played the melodies. The Harlequinade was beautiful, and Pierrot was impressive. The final minuet, a complex piece due to its peculiarities, was brilliant. Due to the sustained applause, there was an encore, a humorous piece from Purcell's semi-opera King Arthur .

A charming first day with a classical Baroque repertoire that spanned the various movements of European Baroque. The Fulmini Ensemble set the bar very high for the groups that will perform in the following concerts. We hope that this festival will become part of the city's long tradition of classical music festivals.

The original event report in Spanish can be found here: Cuando la música imita la realidad .

Important information:

Palacio Noel – Suipacha 1422 – Retiro – Buenos Aires – Argentina
Ensemble Fulmini * Members

Gustavo Di Giannantonio (violin), Nicolás Toneatto (violin), Rodolfo Marchesini (violin), Paula Weihmuller (viola), María Jesús Olondriz (cello), Guillermo Properzi (double bass), Juan Carlos Saez (clave), Agustín Tamagno (oboe) and Azul Chiavia (bassoon).

Next concerts

15.08 - 19.00 hs - La rama frondosa - Syntagma Musicum
16.08 - 16.00 hs - Por las huellas misioneras de América Latina - Capilla del Sol
17.08 - 16.00 hs - Selección de obras del barroco europeo - Música Dialéctica