Salterio Italiano

The salterio is a plucked string instrument from Italy that was particularly popular in the 18th century. This instrument, which is virtually unknown today, is the focus of this concert. The Austrian musician, musicologist and salterio researcher Franziska Fleischanderl is a virtuoso on the instrument. We have already been able to admire her playing once, in December 2019, in the "Focus Bohlenstube" concert series at the Händel-Haus. She plays on an original salterio from 1725, built in Rome by Michele Barbi, whose sound is fondly described as "dolce conforto", a "gentle comforter".

What a fitting name for their ensemble: the first-class baroque musicians take the audience on a journey into the fascinating musical world of 18th-century Italy and enable the historical and now forgotten original literature for Salterio to be heard again in different instrumentations. In Italian libraries and archives Franziska Fleischanderl found largely unknown compositions from Venice, Bologna and Naples. The result is a varied and exciting programme with works by F. Perotti, G. B. Martini, F. Ubaldi, G. Rossi and V. Ugolino. The instrumentalists are congenially supported by Chiara Brunello, whose warm, colourful mezzo-soprano with velvety and natural depth is able to express this music intimately and sensitively.