• a film for Orpheon

extract from " The living museum"

JV : "Originally I wanted to form an ensemble, which played on really fine instruments. Since most people don't have access to such instruments, I decided to collect them myself so that the others can use them. Since I play both violin and viola da gamba, I began collecting these. The violin family consists of the violin, the viola, the violoncello and the double bass; the viola da gamba family comes in seven sizes of instruments; there are also violas d'amore in the collection and several keyboard instruments, which are necessary for the performance of this music...."

<<< European Union Project : 2007-2009

Exhibition of the Orpheon Collection Series of Concerts of Renaissance,

Baroque and Classical Music Series of Lectures and Symposia

Ladies and gentlemen! May we interest you in being our host?

The present project, requiring the participation of at least four European countries, is being developed by the University for Music and the Performing Arts Vienna in conjunction with De Bijloke in Gent (Belgium).

The project consists of the following parts :

I. Exhibition of the collection of historical string instruments of the Orpheon Foundation

A photographic documentation of previous exhibitions can be seen at Exhibitions

The Orpheon Foundation Collection may be viewed at www.orpheon.org

II. A series of concerts performed on these instruments

The musical activities of Orpheon are to be found under:

Orpheon Orchestra, Orpheon Consort

Our suggestions:

• A. Concerto Grosso: Orpheon Baroque Orchestra :  Works by Bach, Telemann, Corelli, Muffat, Vivaldi, etc.
• B. Spanish Music of the 16-17th C.
• C. English Music of the Times of Shakespeare (1600)
• D. German Music of the 17th C.
      (B, C, D: viola da gamba consort with vocal soloists, organ/harpsichord)
• E. Felix Austria: Music of the Habsburgs in Vienna and Salzburg (vocal soloists, violins, violas da gamba, organ/harpsichord)
• F: Music in Versailles: Couperin, Marais, St. Colombe, (vocal soloist, violin, violas da gamba, harpsichord)
• G. Soirée at Esterhazy: Trios by Haydn and Lidl (baryton or viola da gamba, viola y basso)
   

III. A series of lectures, symposia or courses concerning instrument building, performance practice, and other topics

We would like the opportunity to share this experience with you.

This beautiful project brings together a precious cultural heritage:

• the musical instruments by the finest luthiers of the past (all of them museum pieces, but restored and made available to the musicians of today)
• the exquisite acoustical properties of these instruments
• musical masterpieces of very high artistic value performed on these instruments. In essence, a feast for the eye, the ear and the intellect!  

YOUR ROLE AS OUR HOST:

Each host - your festival, for instance - has total independence in organising the project in its own country. You decide the following aspects entirely on your own:

1. EXHIBITION: date and duration
2. CONCERTS: number of concerts and which programs
3. LECTURES, SYMPOSIA, COURSES: entirely up to you.

Further, each host can decide to do any combination of the three parts above: exhibition and concerts, but no lectures, for instance. I will be glad to personally advice you in the develompent of this project for your festivals, considering your personal needs.

FINANCING: A full 60% of all the costs of this project will be covered by the European Union; Only 40% of the funding need be supplied by the hosting organisation. This extraordinary offer will enable many festivals to enrich their cultural programming by the presentation of this unique collection of historical musical instruments, all restored and placed at the disposal of professional musicians, the series of concerts with these instruments and the series of lectures and presentations

If you need clarification of any of the above points, do not hesitate to contact me personally.

Prof. José Vázquez
University of Vienna

Please see also the pdf document : collection on tour

ORPHEON FOUNDATION
Praterstrasse 13/1/3, A-1020 Vienna, Austria
Tel. / Fax : +43-1-21 430 21