Havelland Music Festival: Orpheus and Human Life - An Easter Concert

Ensemble Sprezzatura 22: June Telletxea, vocals | Andreas Arend, Lyra Polyversalis | Wolfgang Eger, percussion

Defeating death – this central motif of the Easter celebration is marked by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. An impressive parallel can be found in the myth of the singer Orpheus, who attempts to lead his deceased bride Eurydice back from the underworld to the world of the living. This narrative also holds hope for us earthly beings, whose lives are represented in selected texts, set to music here by Sprezzatura 22. The trio Sprezzatura 22 aims to enchant through music and interspersed texts or visual elements. Genre boundaries do not hinder this endeavor. At times, they oscillate between various musical styles – from early to contemporary music, from entertainment to twelve-tone, from historically informed to jazz – while at other times, they remain focused on one direction and explore a theme in depth.

"Sprezzatura" is a term from the courtly life of the Italian Renaissance, meaning a playful, literally "disdainful" approach to difficult matters. Nowadays, apart from the ensemble Sprezzatura 22, a casual yet formally correct style of men's fashion is also referred to as "sprezzatura."

Sprezzatura was formed in the spring of 2022 through the meeting of three musicians united by the desire to leave the beaten paths of purist music interpretations. The musicians of Sprezzatura all possess profound knowledge in the field of early music. This knowledge, combined with a joy for improvisation, folk, jazz, and the blending of genres, is the hallmark of Sprezzatura. Additionally, there is a passion for spoken word, staging, and a great joy in playing.

Lutenist Andreas Arend, together with instrument maker Valentin Oelmüller, developed an innovative instrument – a guitar that can be both plucked and bowed. This Lyra Polyversalis allows him to seamlessly switch between melodies and harmonies, materializing his musical creativity, situated in the sonic spectrum between guitar, cello, and violin.

Basque singer June Telletxea has extensively engaged with the music of the Mediterranean region and traditional songs from the Iberian Peninsula. She is trained not only in early music but also in dance and theater. The music is driven by percussionist Wolfgang Eger, who adapts and also alienates various instruments for his purposes, transforming them in unexpected ways.

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