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The {oh!} trio was formed in 2017 at the initiative of musicians from the {oh!} Orchestra: violinist Martyna Pastuszka, gambist Krzysztof Firlus, and harpsichordist Anna Firlus. The group’s main source of artistic inspiration is French Baroque music, a focus clearly reflected in their discographic achievements to date. Their debut album, Portraits – Les caractères français, released by DUX, received the prestigious Clef d’Or ResMusica award in the Baroque instrumental category. In March 2023, they released a three-disc album of Joseph Marchand’s music under the Aparté label.

The {oh!} trio’s repertoire also includes chamber works by Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Gottlieb Graun, Johann Schmelzer, and Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, as well as a broad selection of sonatas for solo violin and basso continuo.

The presence of {oh!} Trio at the Brașov Early Music Festival promises to be an unforgettable musical experience. With their program “Marchand Suites,” the ensemble will present the beauty and refinement of French Baroque music to the Brașov audience.

This concert is set to be a revelation for both connoisseurs and those discovering the charm of Baroque music, offering an intimate and deeply moving evening within the impressive setting of one of Brașov’s most beautiful churches.

20 Sept, 18:00 hr
Evangelical Church of St. Bartholomew
Marchand Suites - Martyna Pastuszka și „{oh!} Trio”

In 1707, Joseph Marchand published the seven Suites de pièces mixed with violin sonatas and basso continuo. Now entirely forgotten, Marchand was one of the royal musicians during the reign of Louis XIV, playing the viola da gamba in the prestigious Chapelle Royale, the “orchestra of the 24 violins” (conducted by Jean-Baptiste Lully), and in the Les Petits Violons du Roi. A renowned teacher of his time, he was said to possess a “unique manner of performance.” His Suites were the first in the repertoire to feature the “dangerous” double trill. In certain ways, his music reflects the Italianization of musical tastes, but through the abundance of his musical ideas, the beauty of his harmonies, his virtuosity (especially in the bass parts), and his concern for the balance of form and voices, Marchand is not merely an imitator but rather an heir to the artistry of Marin Marais, Sainte-Colombe, or François Couperin.

Performing on violin, pardessus de viole (the highest-pitched instrument in the viol family), positive organ, viola da gamba, or harpsichord, the trio {oh!} – Martyna Pastuszka and Krzysztof and Anna Firlus – brings to life a gem from the early 18th century with all its poetry and refined expression.

kyrios

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