On March 21, it’s Early Music Day! A day to celebrate the early music in our lives, with many concert videos released on that day on www.earlymusicday.eu and surprise events on social media.

Olga Pashchenko has been chosen as the ambassador of the 9th edition of this global, collaborative event. Her unique approach of historical keyboards makes her the perfect advocate of Early Music Day. This balance between consideration for history and a great artistic sense is well represented in the playlist that she created for us.

Roman 12 Sonatas for flute and continuo

Jed Wentz; Musica ad Rhenum

Brilliant Classics

This piece of music is considered to be composed by 'the Swedish Handel' and it is one which is rarely heard. It is worth highlighting Jed Wentz’s unsurpassable rhetorical freedom in his playing of the flute and his changes of emotion are also noteworthy. The unity of the whole group is inspiration as one can hear the enjoyment of them playing together.

Venezia Stravagantissima

'Balli, Canzone & Madrigali 1550-1630'

Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orchestra / Skip Sempé

Alpha

This recording is a feast to the ears and the soul! It’s glorious instrumental setting and musical gestures take us away to the enchanting and hypnotising atmosphere of madrigals, canzonas, and balli.

Handel Eight Great Suites

Richard Egarr

Harmonia Mundi

Utterly majestic harpsichord playing! The incredible sound and variety of colour from the harpsichord make it sound like a complete orchestra is present – beautiful playing to beautiful music.

Medtner Piano Concertos Nos 2 and 3

Nicolas Medtner; Philharmonia Orchestra / Issay Dobrowen

Testament

A remastered recording of Nikolay Medtner, who studied with Carl Czerny’s students, playing his own music. One of the last romantics as a composer and as a pianist. It is breathtakingly virtuosic - in the most truly virtuous sense of the word!

Anime Amanti

Roberta Mameli & Luca Pianca

Alpha Classics

A perfect example of a gorgeous soprano whose voice shows a range of colours, emotions – from love to despair, affetti, and always telling a story. Accompanied by Luca Pianca’s exquisite lute playing.

Beethoven Last Piano Sonatas

Alexei Lubimov

ZigZag Territoires

The last of Beethoven Sonatas, Beethoven’s own confession to himself, performed on an Alois Graf 1828. In this performance we hear exactly how Beethoven trespasses any possible boundaries existing at the time - compositional and instrumental. Lubimov truly has every note spoken for under his fingers.

Niccolo Jommelli Requiem & Miserere

Il Gardellino; Peter Van Heyghen

Passacaille

Pure beauty, what else to say?

JS Bach Harpsichord Concertos

Andreas Staier; Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

Harmonia Mundi

A truly exciting recording of Bach’s harpsichord concertos – the energy from both the soloist and the orchestra takes the listeners on a thrilling musical trip. While at the same time the depth of musical expression makes one look inside oneself.

JS Bach Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord Nos 1-6

Pablo Valetti, Céline Frisch

Alpha Classics

Both the singing and speaking quality of Pablo Valetti’s violin playing in collaboration with Celine Frisch totally charm us. It helps to immerse the listener into the kaleidoscope of Bach’s neverending fantasy - sometimes full of energy, sometimes nostalgic, and sometimes pain.

Buxtehude Sonatas

La Rêveuse, Benjamin Perrot

Mirare

This trio and quartet sonatas are by two great friends of the Northern German area – Reincken and Buxtehude. The exceptional music, which indeeds represents a fully blossoming Musical Garden, is in the masterful hands of La Reveuse.

Explore this year's Early Music Day (March 21, 2021) here: https://www.earlymusicday.eu