The Peralada Festival is no longer just synonymous with summer from this Easter. The contest premieres this Thursday an “extension” with the Easter edition which begins with a top-level performance dedicated to the baroque music and with an absolute plenum. The Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski, accompanied by the orchestra Il Giardino d’Amore under the direction of Stefan Plewniak, has offered a varied program of great works by Vivaldi and Handel under the title ‘Heroe!’. The director of the festival, Oriol Aguilà, says that the contest was “a dream of the team” and that it opens with practically all the tickets sold.
Born in Vasovia 30 years ago, he has quickly become one of the most recognized performers of the international classical music scene. And not only for his abilities on stage but also for his ability to connect with an audience that still sees this musical style with a certain distance: the young.
In the presentation of his performance, in fact, Orliński himself asserted that many still considered baroque as “classist” and did not take into account that, in its time, it was like today’s pop where people ate and drank at the concerts
With the aim of normalizing it and bringing it closer to the new generations, Peralada wanted to turn the performance into a declaration of intent. “We have a very loyal audience and we are dedicating this festival to them, but it is true that the lyrics are looking for new ways to catch up and Jakub is the best exponent of that,” says Aguilà.
The countertenor is the highest voice a man can reach. Three centuries ago it was that of the ‘castrati’. In fact, Orliński is often compared to this figure. His versatility, however, goes much further and he not only brings baroque arias closer to the modern era but is also a great fan of breakdancing, a style with which he has won several competitions.
Balance between tradition and modernity
Tradition and modernity come together in a single character, although he has assured on some occasion that “there is a lot of vocal ‘breakdance’ in the ‘coloratura’ of Vivaldi and Handel”, two of the authors he has played in the concert inaugural
Orliński started his performance shortly after seven in the afternoon, in the Carmel church. Front of more than 200 peoplethe countertenor accompanied by Il Giardino d’Amore – who played from memory and without sheet music – opened with a piece by Vivaldi, ‘Olimpiade’.
The concert, which has been divided into two parts, has been combining works by the two composers. Among them, ‘Sento in seno’ or ‘Il Giustino’ by Vivaldi but also some highly acclaimed pieces by Handel such as ‘Torna sol per un momento’, ‘Stille amare’, ‘A dispetto d’un volto ingrato’, ‘Agitato da fiere tempeste or ‘Furibondo spira il vento’.
Three days of concerts
The program will continue this Friday with ‘La Giuditta’ by Alessandro Scarlatti and the polyphonic formation Cantoría with ‘Ofici de Tenebres de Vivendres Sant’ and will close on Saturday with a lyrical recital by Freddie de Tommaso.
Aguilà is satisfied with the rate of tickets sold. In fact, the opening concert has been absolutely sold out and for the rest, there are few tickets left. “It was a dream we had, following in the wake of other festivals”, says Aguilà.