Aura musicale
The early music ensemble AURA MUSICALE was founded in 1995 by young baroque instrumentalists who have performed together already in many different Hungarian and international chamber music formations. The artistic director is Balázs MÁTÉ, a world famous Baroque cello player. The initiative to form the group was an opera production of „Chi la dura la vince” by Biber during the summer festivals in Salzburg and Innsbruck where the group received enthusiastic reviews and reception by the audience for its fiery, rich coloured, humorous and virtuoso playing. Since then they focus on the music of the Baroque and classical era about 1600-1800 comprising a large number of rarities – the fruits of untiring research and experiment, continuously documented on world premiere recordings for HUNGAROTON, and praised by the international press. Their CD with the „7 Bizzarrie, Op.2” by Giuseppe Valentini was honoured with the „Premio del Disco Antonio Vivaldi” given by „Fondazione Cini” Venice. They gave many successful concerts at important early music festivals: „Early Music Days” Würzburg, „Days of Tyrolian Sacred Music”, „Festival Eckardsau”, „Early Music Days” Sopron, „Early Music Forum” Budapest, „Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival”, „Festwochen der Alten Musik Innsbruck” etc. Their concerts and CDs brought them worldwide reputation. In March/April 2004 they toured with the „St. John’s Passion” by J.S.Bach in Central Europe – a collaboration with a unique cast of vocal star soloists: Harry van der Kamp, Peter de Groot, Rainer Trost, Markus Schäfer a.o. AURA MUSICALE represented Hungary at the „Europafest” in April 2000 in Klagenfurt (Austria) held for ensembles coming from the new member countries of the European Union. In August 2007 they performed a series of concerts at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (Germany) with great success. In June 2008 they toured with the B Minor Mass by Bach playing it a.o. at the festival Musik Meran. Their next success in 2010 were the performances of „Israel in Egypt” by Handel and a programme with concerti by Vivaldi, J.S.Bach and contemporaries. Highlights in 2011 were the performance of the oratorio „Il trionfo del tempo” by Haendel, and the CD recording of the „Musical Calendar” by G.J.Werner. 2012 was the year of their debut at the ADMA concert series (Fribourg, Switzerland) and the Ambraser Schlosskonzerte in Innsbruck. 2013 followed concerts in Istanbul and Eszterháza as well as a tour with „Messiah” (Handel) in Tyrol. 2014’s highlight were their concerts with the Brandenburg Concertos and sacred music by J.S.Bach at the Palace of Arts Budapest at the Bach-Marathon. In 2015 they made their highly acclaimed debut at the Liszt Academy Budapest. The highlights of 2016 were the staged performances of the Opera „Orontea” by A.Cesti at the same venue. In May 2025 they played the opening concert of the Händel-Marathon in Budapest. The group performs on period instruments and depending upon programme is able to play in every possible formation from soloistic to middle-large symphonic dimensions.
Discography of „Aura Musicale”:
G. Valentini (~1680-1746): 7 Bizzarrie per camera, Op.2
J. J. Quantz (1697-1773): Four Flute Concertos (soloist: Benedek Csalog)
C. Tessarini (~1690-~1766) „Il Contrasto armonico”, Op.10,
Introduzioni, Op.11, Nos. 1-3
G. B. Cirri (1724-1808): 6 Cello Concertos, Op.14 (soloist: Balázs Máté)
Chr. W. Gluck (1714-1787): The 7 Trio Sonatas
J. S. Kusser (1660-1727): Three Orchestral Suites from „Festin des Muses”
C. Tessarini (~1690-~1766): Introduzioni, Op.11, Nos.4-12
J. S. Kusser (1660-1727): Three Orchestral Suites from „Festin des Muses”,
Vol.2
J. S. Kusser (1660-1727): Two Serenatas for the Dublin Court
G. J. Werner (1693-1766): The Musical Calendar