ARTISTS

The Australian Haydn Ensemble

Guest Soprano Stéphanie Varnerin (France)

Skye McIntosh Director

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French soprano, Stéphanie Varnerin joins the Ensemble from Europe in a stunning Italian baroque program of sacred, secular and instrumental music by Vivaldi, Stradella and Cesarini.

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Guest Soprano Stéphanie Varnerin (France)

Stéphanie Varnerin’s world premiere recording of cantatas by Cesarini has attracted considerable attention. Her stunning voice has garnered many awards including First prize in the 2014 International Baroque Singing Competition of Froville, First prize for Excellence at the Concours International de chant Léopold Bellan (Paris) and the 2010 Orphée from the Academy of Lyrical Recording. 

This program features sublime music for solo soprano and strings including two dramatic Vivaldi works - In Furore and Vos aurae per montes. In Furore is a virtuosic work for soprano and is complimented by dramatic writing for strings and continuo. The cantata Vos aurae per montes beautifully depicts the wafting breezes reminiscent of his ‘Spring’ concerto from the Four Seasons in an incredibly virtuosic work testing the skills of the soloist to the full.

This is beautifully contrasted by Stradella’s gorgeous aria ‘Queste lagrime e sospire’ - from his Oratorio San Giovanni Battista. A true gem of the baroque era! The program also includes a cantata from lesser-known Italian baroque composer Cesarini, La Gelosia. 

AHE will weave stunning instrumental works throughout the program to create a magical Italian baroque garden of delights.

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