I played trumpet and cornetto with Jaroslav Rouček, and Charlie Fischer played timpani. Since the project was in A = 430Hz, I had to make extensions for my cornetti to play in this unusual (for cornetti) pitch. I took to my workshop in February 2023, and produced two extensions based on a concept illustrated by Bartolomeo Bismantova in his Compendio Musicale (Ferrara, 1677), Biblioteca Panizzi, MSS. REGG. E 41. The extensions, which I made from brass, boxwood, and leather work surprisingly well. I decided to make two extensions, one for the cornetto that is usually in 440 Hz and one for the cornetto that is usually in 465 Hz. Having both instruments at my disposal was incredibly useful and the 465 Hz cornetto was especially useful in the opening chorus, and in some of the higher passages later on. 

René Jacobs made this semi-staged performance, with just three soloists, rather dynamic with plenty of movement, additional percussion, and ensemble acting from the RIAS chamber choir.

It was a pleasure to play with the Freiburger Barockorchester led by Cecilia Bernardini, and the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin; we we had an excellent cast of singers too: Helena Rasker (alto) sang Orfeo, with Polina Pastirchak (soprano) as Euridice and Giulia Semenzato (soprano) as Amore.

This had been a wonderful tour with many highlights, including wild swimming in the river Dreisam in Freiburg (and in the Balearic Sea near Barcelona), the excitement of Barcelona, wonderful Asturian food and the sierras (as well as processions for Corpus Christi) in Oviedo, and the grandeur of the royal palaces in Madrid. 

The thrilling final concert took place in the Theatre Real in Madrid. It was a pleasure to give our final performance in this resplendent venue. 

After the final concert in Madrid, I left for Paris to join Les Talens Lyriques for their recording and performance of Louise Bertin’s Fausto (1831). I had travelled to Freiburg by train via Paris on 1 June 2023 to drop off four additional instruments I need for Les Talens Lyriques, meaning that I’m travelling with a personal-most of eight instruments: fortunately I managed to fit everything into just two trumpet cases!