Flow movements for all senses

When you think of Baroque music, you might recall intoxicating soundscapes, surprising contrasts of light and shade, or a continuous, rhythmic flow of movement that, like the bloodstream in human organs, vitalizes the orchestral body and the senses. Or do you think of prominent names like Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Sammartini, and Telemann? Or perhaps of «Aernen Barock» – a synonym for supreme Baroque artistry. Ernen's dynamic Baroque ensemble will feature all these masters in the summer of 2026, alongside works by Baroque contemporaries whose names are less familiar.

A lot to discover

Ada Pesch (violin) and Deirdre Dowling (viola), the artistic directors of the Baroque Weeks, have once again spared no effort in tracking down high-quality, rarely performed pieces and weaving them into the programs. Not only the audience, but also the ensemble members of Aernen Barock, who will feature prominently in wind and string solos, are sure to delight in these discoveries.

A piece featuring a virtuosic solo cello will be heard from the Dutchman Pieter Hellendaal, who, at the age of 16, embarked on an adventurous study trip to Italy (only returning six years later). The composer Johan Helmich Roman was also once gripped by wanderlust. The Swede was drawn to England, where he met Handel. The fact that Roman left behind 23 symphonies, as well as a work with 45 movements that was performed in 1728 for the coronation of the Russian Tsar, speaks volumes about his creative power.

And who doesn't know Bach's Goldberg Variations! The fact that Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who died at the age of 29 and after whom the pianistic masterpiece is named, also composed himself is, conversely, largely unknown. In Ernen, one will not only be able to gleefully close this knowledge gap, but also be captivated by fascinating works from the pens of Giuseppe Brescianello, Evaristo Felice Dall’Abraco, or Christoph Schaffrath: the virtuosic wind solos contributed by Josep Domènech, Xenia Löffler (oboes), and Javier Zafra (bassoon) have addictive potential.

Golden Voice: Beth Taylor

The performance of Vivaldi's «Stabat Mater» with the Scottish mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor (*1993) is also expected to go straight to the heart. The emotional expression, the tone-painting drama, and the profound depth of this iconic composition are at times reminiscent of opera arias. The piece is also an excellent example that the «Prete rosso», known for his fiery temperament, also had a contemplative side. Taylor, an award-winning singer who is equally at home on the opera stage and in the concert hall, is considered a Baroque expert par excellence. In addition to Vivaldi, the singer with the velvety sound-gold in her voice will also bring solo cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach to Ernen.

Deep Bass: Nahuel Di Pierro

Approximately seventeen flying hours away from Beth Taylor’s birthplace of Glasgow, Nahuel Di Pierro was born in 1984. His journey later led him from his hometown of Buenos Aires to Paris. The bass, whose impressive repertoire ranges from Baroque music to Romantic Bel Canto, is making his debut at the Musikdorf just like Beth Taylor. In his musical luggage, he has, among other things, arias by Handel and Vivaldi, as well as a cantata by Bach.

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Written in November 2025, by Marianne Mühlemann