Orchestral Concert "Galanteries"

Orchestral concert on Easter Monday
What began a few years ago has already established itself as a tradition: an orchestral concert on Easter Saturday in the Reformed Church in Bad Ragaz. The activities of the "orchester le phénix" are well known to many culture enthusiasts from the region: in recent years, the ensemble has been able to appeal to a wide audience with its innovative programmes and musical quality. After several successful Easter Saturday concerts, in recent years with the Ticino baroque violinist Chiara Banchini, the cellist Peter Hörr and music from South America, this year Baroque music by the unjustly unknown composer Michel Corrette will be heard. His cello concerto "le phénix" is the orchestra's namesake, and the orchestra recorded his organ concertos on CD together with Hannfried Lucke in 2021 in the Zernez church. In addition to methodological works and music-theoretical writings, Corrette composed wonderful music that is performed far too rarely today. With its concerts and CD recording, "le phénix" is committed to bringing this unknown music to the ears. Complemented by Rameau and Couperin, this makes for a wonderful French program.

"Orchestra Le Phénix"
Since 2000, the two cellists Mathias Kleiböhmer and Christine Meyer have been playing and organizing projects under the name "le phénix", whether as a cello duo, chamber music ensemble or orchestral. What all projects have in common is the demand for the highest musical quality, based on the findings of historical performance practice. All participants have studied both modern and historical instrumental playing and bring a variety of impulses to the work through their commitment to "le phénix". "le phénix" consists of a permanent cast that stands for quality and continuity in equal measure. This has repeatedly resulted in chamber music ensembles for individual projects. The "orchester le phénix" performed with soloists such as John Holloway, Heinz Holliger, Maurice Steger, Pierre Favre, Christophe Coin, Giora Feidman, Andreas Staier, Sergio Azzolini, Nuria Rial, Emma Kirkby, Albrecht Mayer and with the "King's Singers". The orchestra records CDs at regular intervals and has already been awarded the prestigious Echo Klassik Prize twice (Duport Cello Concertos 2010, Wagenseil Cello Concertos 2016). The "Prize for Professional Cultural Work of the Canton of Graubünden" also paid tribute to the award. In cooperation with choirs and with the Chur Theatre (director Peter Konwitschny), "le phénix" proved its stylistic confidence and flexibility. The production of staged Bach cantatas was shown at the Chur Theatre and the Bergen International Festival (Norway). The work of "le phénix" is also documented in regular radio broadcasts of concerts. The CD with harpsichord and organ concertos by Michel Corrette (soloists: Vital Julian Frey and Hannfried Lucke) was released in spring 2022.

Hannfried Lucke, organ
Hannfried Lucke was educated at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, the Mozarteum University and the Conservatoire de musique de Genève. He has made guest appearances in most European countries, the USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. In 1997 he became a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, and in 2000 he was appointed to the Chair of Organ at the Mozarteum University. From 2016 to 2017, he also taught as a substitute professor at the Freiburg University of Music. Lucke is a jury member of international organ competitions, a member of the board of trustees of the Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg and since 2018 Vice-Rector for Art at the Mozarteum University.