“No one concert this group performs is conventional… One cannot deny PHOENIX’s superb musicianship in whatever it tackles. Those of us looking for first class performance will never be disappointed by PHOENIX. It has set new standards for Early Music performance in Israel.” Go Jerusalem
"Ensemble PHOENIX: for the ones looking for baroque programs with originality and quality." Yedioth Aharonoth
After the great success PHOENIX's Israeli premiere of Il Diluvio Universale by Michelangelo Falvetti (1642-92) at the Abu Gosh Vocal Music Festival in Israel, PHOENIX now performs the world premiere of the complete NABUCCO, the other extant work by the rediscovered composer, never presented in its entirety in modern times. The superb Sicilian baroque six-voice oratorio is based on the Book of Daniel, and was used by Falvetti and his librettist Giatini to convey Sicily's national struggle.
Glamour and Fashion: London in the 18th century
In the second half of the 18th century London was a city of unrivaled riches. Ignited by the arrival of the adventurous musical figures of Giardini, J.C. Bach and K.F. Abel, and fueled by the continuous influx of excellent foreign musicians such as Haydn and Stamitz, its concert life set the pace for European cities. This program brings a taste of this amazing times, with works by Haydn, Stamitz, J.C. Bach and Abel.
Bach: the complete viola da gamba sonatas
Three diamonds crown the repertoire of the viola da gamba: they are the three sonatas originally composed for this instrument and harpsichord by J.S. Bach (1685-1750). Viola da gamba player (and PHOENIX's musical director) Myrna Herzog and her long standing partner, harpsichordist (and The Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra musical director) David Shemer share with us their loving interpretation of this pinnacle of the viol repertoire.
J.S. Bach: A praise to God in Zion
Some of the most beautiful and moving arias were written by Johann Sebastian Bach for the alto voice. Alon Harari & PHOENIX will perform a collection of those, taken from the cantatas as well as from St. John and St. Matthew Passions. The program is completed by two magnificent trio-sonatas by the great master.
"A piece of history, in the history of baroque concerts in Israel: "Il Diluvio Universale", the wonderful Sicilian baroque oratorio by Michelangelo Falvetti (1642-1692) appeared for the first time in a public concert in Israel, signed by five of the finest Israeli singers and Ensemble PHOENIX conducted by Myrna Herzog". Hagai Hitron, HaAretz.
"Myrna Herzog has once again thrilled festival audiences, introducing them to a little-known and rare Baroque treasure that recounts a well-known Bible story with freshness and magic.” Pamela Hickman
A Brazilian Requiem for a Portuguese Queen
The year of 2017 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830), the most important Brazilian colonial composer. His works, never heard in Israel, got a new dimension with the arrival to Brazil of the Portuguese Royal Family in 1808, who would rule Portugal from Rio de Janeiro.
Our program focuses on his famous 1816 Requiem composed for the Mother-Queen Maria I, complemented by works of Marcos Portugal, who shared with José Maurício the post of chapel master, as well as in some popular music of the time.
Those works will be performed on period instruments, including classical clarinets, flutes, bassoons, natural horns , early timpani and period string instruments.
Mozart: the complete flute quartets on period instruments
Although Mozart referred to the flute as “an instrument I cannot bear”, he wrote wonderful music for it in his symphonies, concertos and operas. His four flute quartets are unique musical gems, displaying great diversity, charm, pathos and also humor! Hear them performed by some of Israel's most distinguished chamber musicians: Moshe Epstein (flute), Rachel Ringelstein (violin), Tali Goldberg (viola), Myrna Herzog (cello).
The unusual program takes us into the extravagant Stylus Fantasticus, defined by Atanasius Kircher in the 1650 as “the most free and unrestrained method of composing, especially suited to instruments. It is bound to nothing, neither to any words nor to a melodic subject, it was instituted to display genius and to teach the hidden design of harmony and the ingenious composition of harmonic phrases and fugues." Works by Pandolfi Mealli, Marais, Bach and Muffat.
