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In the beginning there was the music of J.S. Bach: The musicians of the Ensemble Continuum Wien (= ECW) met at Treffen Bach, an initiative of singers and musicians from various Viennese original sound ensembles who have been meeting together at regular intervals since 2009 to play J.S. Bach cantatas together. In addition to studying the cantata literature, there is the opportunity to work out different variants in terms of instrumentation, phrasing or embellishments, a practice for which there is usually too little time in normal rehearsals and concerts. In the process, the desire matured to continue working with a fixed continuo cast in a different context.
The foundation of the ensemble - like Baroque music in general - is formed by the continuo group with harpsichord/organ, violoncello and violone, if necessary it is supplemented by other instruments such as theorbo, viola da gamba, G violone or bassoon. Depending on the program, one or more vocal soloists and various melodic instruments are added to this foundation.
So far, the Ensemble Continuum Wien has performed several times in the Early Music series in St. Ruprecht, at the Wiener Bach-Woche, Stift Klosterneuburg, Schloss Hof and at various other palace concerts. In 2012 the ensemble was a guest as an opera orchestra for several performances at the Festival Retz. In 2014 the ensemble was again a guest at the Festival Retz, and there were also concerts in Austria, Germany, Hungary and Serbia. Among the singers they have worked with are Daniel Johannsen, Bernarda Bobro, Nicholas Spanos, Barbara Fink, Mara Mastalir, Mathias Hausmann, Armin Gramer, Adrineh Simonian and others. |
