It was the desire to explore the origins of the solo vocal repertoire that inspired Nicolas Achten to found the ensemble Scherzi Musicali. Achten is today one of those rare singers who, following the example of 17th century performance practice, accompanies himself on the lute, theorbo, harp and harpsichord.

The trio he has formed with Eriko Semba (viola da gamba and lirone) and Sarah Ridy (triple harp) is often joined by other instumentalists and singers. Their repertoire of preference being Italian music of the first half of the seventeenth century, the musicians of Scherzi Musicali passionately champion little known composers such as Caccini, Mazzocchi and Sances. This, however, is not cause to neglect the repertoire of the French, English and German baroque.

Opera occupies an important place in Scherzi Musicali’s repertoire: Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas or Blow’s Venus & Adonis, as well as Caccini’s Euridice, La Catena d’Adone by Mazzocchi and also L’Incoronazione di Poppea by Monteverdi. The ensemble se performs regularly en Belgium and abroad, notably at the Festival van Vlaanderen, the Festival de Wallonie, the Automne Musical de Spa, and at the Bijloke. Their first recording of Caccini’s Euridice was released in September 2008 on the Ricercar label, and has aroused the unanimous enthusiasm of the press.

Scherzi Musicali's second CD releases Januari 21st, 2010...

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