Hidden Treasures: Andromaca by Benedetto Marcello
Hidden Treasures: Andromaca by Benedetto Marcello
This little-known cantata is a gem of Baroque chamber music. Written for solo soprano and basso continuo, it tells the story of Andromache, Hector, and Astyanyx at the most dramatic moment of the Trojan War, immediately before Hector rejoins the battle with Achilles. Dramatic storytelling at its best is interwoven with beautiful melodies. The cantata is preceded by music for solo cello and harpsichord. Benedetto Marcello was a Venetian nobleman and one of Venice’s best-loved composers of the 17-18th centuries, so much so that the Conservatory of Venice is named after him.
Liesl Odenweller
Appreciated soprano in Europe as a versatile American artist, consistently delights audiences and critics in her unique and exciting interpretations of a wide variety of repertoire. The recipient of numerous awards and grants, Liesl has sung operatic roles and concerts in some of the world’s most prestigious theaters, including Carnegie Hall, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro San Carlo, Auditorium di Milano and the Teatro Piccolo di Milano, collaborating with conductors like Sir Jeffrey Tate, Andrea Marcon, Riccardo Chailly, and Raymond Hughes, and stage directors including Jonathan Miller, Paul Curran, and Thaddeus Strassberger. A long-time resident of Venice, Italy, in 2013, Liesl co-founded Venice Music Project to help rediscover forgotten masterpieces and preserve the great tradition of Venice’s musical heritage. She performs regularly with VMP’s resident Baroque ensemble, in Venice and abroad, and their travels will take them outside Italy in 2024 and 2025 to Handel House Museum and the London Handel Festival, as well as a North American Tour. Liesl Odenweller’s gown and jewels are designed by Gualti of Venice.
Federico Toffano
In 2013, he received his Masters in Baroque cello from the Royal Academy of Music in London. He then spent four years as first cellist for the orchestra il Pomo d’oro. Now he performs regularly with Venice Baroque Orchestra and as first cello with Les Musiciens du Louvre. With these groups, Federico has had the opportunity to travel the world with his cello, playing in the most prestigious concert halls. Between 2013 and 2017, Federico has played in the USA, Argentina, Perù, Uruguay, China, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Jordan, and Russia. He has recorded with Erato, Sony, Deutsche Grammophon, and Naive. Since 2018, he plays with the Delfico quartet. In 2016 he founded il Bacharo tour: the music of Bach in Venetian “bacari” or wine bars. He plays a Baroque cello made in 2005 by Pierre Bohr.
Marija Jovanovic
Marija performs as a solo organist and harpsichordist, and as part of numerous Early Music ensembles, with which she has performed in Italy, Austria, Russia, Estonia, China, South Korea, and the Stati Uniti. With the Vienna Kammeroper, she assisted in preparation and performance of operas by G.F. Handel and L. Vinci under the direction of R. Dubrovsky and A. Curtis. She has collaborated with various composers of contemporary music as soloist at festivals including the 56th Biennale di Musica di Venezia and CaminoControCorrente. As a singer, she is a member of the Ensemble Oktoechos, specialized in Medieval vocal music, and she has collaborated with the groups Un unum ensemble e Reverdie. She has recorded both as a harpsichordist and as a singer for Tactus, Urania records, ArsPublica and the magazine Amadeus. Since 2001, she is the resident organist for St. George’s Anglican Church in Venice. She is also currently the harpsichord accompanist for Early Music courses at the Conservatories “G. Rossini” in Pesaro,”A. Pedrolli” in Vicenza, and “G.B. Martini” in Bologna.
