EARL'S COURT BAROQUE
"When I think of a word to replace that of music, I can think only of Venice." In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, music from Venice inspired and delighted the whole of Europe. Venetian style masquerade balls, especially, were all the rage in Count Heidegger's eighteenth-century high society London. This concert will include entertaining, imaginative, and uncommonly beautiful works by Venetian masters Vivaldi, Marini, Uccelini, and Castello, as well as forgotten English works associated with Venetian fashions in 18th-century London.
This exciting ensemble, which on occasion expands into a full-size Baroque orchestra and regularly works with singers and other guest artists, consists of some of the best young musicians from the professional London early music circle. Earl's Court Baroque is currently an ensemble in residence at the Earl's Court Community Festival in London.
Žak has performed as a continuo player, chamber musician, and as a soloist across Europe, North America, and Asia on the Renaissance lute, archlute, theorbo, and Baroque guitar. His performances have included numerous concerts, recitals, lecture recitals, and opera productions with leading early music groups, orchestras, and opera companies (including Florilegium, Charivari Agréable, Toronto-based Opera Atelier, Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra, and many more). Žak assumed the role of musical co-director in a Canadian performance of The Indian Queen in 1999 and continued his work as a musical director in London, England. In addition to his work as a music director and freelance musician, he has been a frequent coach and guest lecturer at various early music societies and universities, a regular music critic and feature article contributor at Goldberg Early Music Magazine, and a professor of historical performance practice at the Royal College of Music.
Esther has performed as a soloist and a consort singer in Austria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Slovenia and Holland. Her recent performances include numerous concerts with Oxford-based Bartholomew Consort (directed by JanJoost van Elburg), Hertfordshire Chorus, the Reading Bach Choir, and with Psallite women's choir (directed by Nancy Hadden) with whom she also recorded the CD Ceremonyes of Carolles. Duo recitals with pianist William Hancox are a regular feature of Esther's work. Recent performances have included works by Lili Boulanger, Henri Duparc, Richard Strauss, Debussy, Messiaen, Obradors and Rodrigo. Their first CD titled "Whisper who dares - Classical Lullabies for Voice and Piano" was released in December 2007.
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