Theatrum Affectuum english 2015

T HEATRUM A FFECTUUM (B ASEL /M ILAN )
Theatrum Affectuum, founded in 2003, specialises in music from 17th and 18th century Italy and
Germany. Using the combination of recorder, one or two violins, cello, lute and harpsichord, the
ensemble has an individual, energetic and insightful approach to interpret the contrasting affects
found in baroque music. Press reviews have described the ensemble’s interpretations as both
profound and witty. Also the incorporation of the extensive improvisations in different styles from
the baroque is one of the group’s prominent features (see critic from early music).
The group has toured extensively in Europe, allowing them to develop a distinct way of performing.
The members of Theatrum Affectuum are regularly performing with leading European baroque and
classical groups, such as Accademia Bizantina and Il Giardino Armonico. Under the name of
Ricreation d’Arcadia several group members won the 1st prize and the audience prize in the
acclaimed Rovereto early music competition in 2004. The ensemble’s first CD La meraviglia parlante
has been received with great success in Europe, Japan and Australia. The second CD with works by
Nicola Matteis will be released in spring 2015 on the German label Aeolus.
Theatrum Affectuum is currently based in Milan, Italy, and Basel, Switzerland. Its members are:
Andreas Böhlen – recorders
Ayako M atsunaga – baroque violin
Pierre-Augustin Lay – baroque cello
Giangiacomo Pinardi – archlute
Takashi W atanabe – harpsichord and organ
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Andreas Böhlen – recorder
The recorder and jazz-saxophone player Andreas Böhlen
focuses on both early music and jazz. He is particularly
interested in various improvisational styles of the renaissance
and baroque as well as jazz. Andreas leads his own groups
Theatrum Affectuum, Satyr’s Band, Andreas Böhlen Band
and Crank and is member of various other groups and
orchestras all over Europe.
Born in 1983 Andreas began playing recorder at the age of
six, and several years later he started alto saxophone. While
a high school student Andreas undertook lessons at the
conservatories of Bremen and Cologne. He was awarded
many prizes in several national and international
competitions. Between 2003 and 2007 he attended the
Conservatory of Amsterdam, studying recorder with Walter
van Hauwe and jazz saxophone with Jasper Blom and
Ferdinand Povel. After completing his recorder degree with
distinction, Andreas studied musicology in Bologna. He is
currently based in Basel, Switzerland, where he has
completed both a Masters degree in early music
improvisation with distinction and a Masters degree in jazz
saxophone in 2011. Andreas has appeared on many CDs
and radio and TV broadcasts and is touring regularly. He teaches recorder as a professor at the
University of the Arts Graz, Austria.
See www.andreasboehlen.com for further information.
Ayako Matsunaga – baroque violin
Ayako Matsunaga was born in Tokyo, Japan. She started
the violin at a very young age. In 1995, she began her
studies at the Toho college of Music, where she
graduated in modern violin. During her time there she
also began studying baroque violin as a minor subject,
and quickly gained a strong affinity with early repertoire.
Ayako was awarded the Early Music Prize in Japan in
2002, the first prize as one of the members of Ensemble
Ricreation d’Arcadia at Premio Bonporti 2004 in Rovereto,
Italy and the second prize and audience prize at the
Premio Bonporti in 2007. After studying in Amsterdam
with Lucy van Dael at the Conservatory of Amsterdam
and with Marie Leonhardt, Ayako moved to Italy to study
with Stefano Montanari in Milan, where she graduated in
2010. Ayako has an active performing career in Japan and
Europe, and works regularly with such ensembles as Il
Giardino Armonico, Ensemble Zefiro, Ensemble Cordia,
Ghislieri Consort and Le Cercle de l’Harmonie.
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Pierre-Augustin Lay – baroque cello
Pierre-Augustin Lay studied modern cello with Jacques
Ripoche in Caen, France. His taste for early music lead him to
the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, where he studied with
Christophe Coin, Sergio Azzolini and Jesper Christensen and
graduated in 2002. His research passion for repertoire made
him move to Holland where he studied at the Royal
Conservatory in Den Haag with a diploma in 2004. He has
regularly been playing with ensembles such as Les Musiciens
du Louvre, Harmonie Universelle, Ensemble Matheus and Le
Cercle de l’Harmonie. He has performed with Gustav
Leonhardt, Sigiswald Kuijken, Ton Koopman, Jordi Savall,
Jesper Christensen, Chiara Banchini, Andrea Marcon, Giuliano
Carmignola, Maurice Bourgues, Emma Kirkby and Enrico
Onofri. He founded the ensemble La Loge Olympique, finalist
in the Bruges early music competition. Pierre is active as a
soloist and chamber musician and performs in many important
music venues all over Europe. He made several recordings
with Harmonia Mundi, SWR and Eloquentia.
Takashi Watanabe – harpsichord
Takashi Watanabe was born in Nagano, Japan, in 1975.
He graduated from the Tokyo College of Music (piano
major), followed by postgraduate studies in harpsichord
at the Toh! Gakuen School of Music. Having studied
harpsichord for two years he won the Early Music Prize
in Japan. From 2002 he studied harpsichord with Bob
van Asperen at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and in
2005 he moved to Pavia, Italy, to study historical organ
with Lorenzo Ghielmi at the Scuole Civiche di Milano,
graduating in 2010. As founder of Ensemble Ricreation
d’Arcadia he won the first prize at “Premio Bonporti
2004” (president of the jury: Gustav Leonhardt) in
Rovereto, Italy, as well as the audience prize and the
ORF recording prize. The ensemble has since been
invited to many early music festivals in Italy, Austria and
Slovenia. Takashi has been awarded other prizes
including the third prize at the Fano Adriano
International organ competition in Italy and the
“Cembalosonderpreis” at the 3rd International
Viola da Gamba Competition in Köthen, Germany. He is in demand in Europe as a harpsichordist
and organist, both as a soloist and as a continuo player and has played with such groups as La
Divina Armonia, Ensemble Cordia, Ensemble Zefiro etc. Between 2003 and 2008 he has been the
conductor at the “Handel Festival Japan”, performing various operas and cantatas by Handel, which
were received with great praise. In June 2012, his first solo CD of J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”
was released on ALM Records and has won several CD awards. Takashi teaches harpsichord and
performance practice at the Bern University of the Arts, Switzerland. http://darcadia.blogspot.it.
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PRESS REVIEWS OF THE ENSEMBLE
Wertheim/Urphar, Wertheimer Zeitung,11.05.2004, Siegfried Albert
Mit hoher Exaktheit, technischer Virtuosität und ausgereiftem Gefühl für die Dynamik und den oftmals
feinsinnigen Charakter der Barockmusik meisterte nun das Ensemble die Suite D-Dur von Johann Ludwig
Krebs. Am Ende gab es für das meisterhaft agierende Quartett stehende Ovationen und einen lang
anhaltenden Schlussapplaus, so dass man den Satz „Coulant“ nochmals als Zugabe präsentierte.
Neustadt/Harz, Thüringer Allgemeine, 29.08.2006
Das junge Ensemble „Theatrum Affectuum“ trat auf und bot in scheinbarer Mühelosigkeit in traumhaft
sicherem Ensemblespiel ein fast 90-minütiges Programm. Zusammen mit der frischen, lebendig flexiblen und
virtuosen Musizierweise des engagierten Ensembles traten Fragen der Tempowahl und Stilechtheit erst gar
nicht auf. Das begeisterte Publikum ließ die Akteure nicht ohne eine Zugabe weiterziehen.
Leer, General-Anzeiger, 24.07.2007, Roland Moll
Begeisterung der Konzertbesucher kannte keine Grenzen. Beifallsstürme wie im großen Saal eines
bedeutenden Theaters gab es im Festsaal der Evenburg in Leer-Loga für die fünf Musiker des Ensembles
„Theatrum Affectuum“ für ihre hervorragenden Interpretationen von Kompositionen aus dem Barock.
Bad Liebenstein, Freies Wort, 30.08.2007, Annett Wöhler
Üppig inszenierter, prachtvoller Melodienreichtum, verspielte, lebensfroh leuchtende Klänge, die in der
strengen inneren Schlichtheit der Liebensteiner Friedenskirche umso stärker ihre Wirkung taten...
Sehnsuchtsvolles Flötenspiel und tiefgründig schwingende Cellosaiten: Andreas Böhlen und Takashi Kaketa
ließen Melodien und Töne ihrer Barockmusik bewegend flirren. Die vier Musiker begeisterten ihr zahlreiches
Publikum, welches in wunderschönen italienischen und deutschen Kompositionen des 17. und 18.
Jahrhunderts schwelgen durfte. Die Essenz dieser Musikepoche, gefühlvoll und spannungsreich zugleich,
wurde von den Musikern perfekt eingefangen und virtuos wiedergegeben.
Göllnitz, Zeitung für Brandenburg, 4.September 2007, Bernd Balzer
Spitzenmusik in Göllnitz: „So etwas habe ich noch nie gehört“. Die Sauberkeit des Spiels auf allen drei
Instrumenten war imposant. Ich habe selten so einen perfekten Blockflötenspieler gehört.
Südthüringer Zeitung, 30.August 2005, Christina Feige
Andreas Böhlen begeisterte mit seinem virtuosen Flötenspiel die Zuschauer in der bis auf den letzten Platz
gefüllten Dreieinigkeitskirche in Dermbach.
Early Music, Vol.XXXV, No.4, 2007, Paul Cienniwa
At one point a radiant Andreas Böhlen descended from the stage to improvise from the audience, assuring us
that the future of old music is in good hands.
CONTACT DETAILS :
Andreas Böhlen
Clarahofweg 9
4058 Basel
Switzerland
www.andreasboehlen.com
info@andreasboehlen.de
Tel +41 76 2747422
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