L‘Armonia Sonora
Mieneke van der Velden
L‘Armonia Sonora
L’Armonia Sonora was founded by Mieneke van der Velden several years ago in order to perform cantatas with a variety of vocal soloists.
The ensemble consists entirely of musicians recognised within the early music world both in the Netherlands and internationally, and who teach at various Dutch and international conservatoria. The make-up of the ensemble often answers the performance needs of a particular cantata – or even a specific aria – and the programming flexibility thus offered allows for some very varied concerts, In this way, the ensemble can consist of a continuo group only, or be extended by the addition strings and winds.
L 'Armonia Sonora works with renowned soloists such as the bass Peter Kooij (Bach, Huijgens, Purcell), counter-tenor Derek Lee Ragin (Buxtehude, Bach) and counter tenor Robin Blaze (Scarlatti, Vivaldi). L'Armonia Sonora has also performed entirely instrumental programs, such as L'Apothéose de Lully in the Utrecht Early Music Festival of 2004 on the request of the Stichting Organisatie Oude Muziek (Foundation for Early Music - NL) . The ensemble recently toured, together with Peter Kooij, in the famous Oude Muziek concert series and in Finland, Germany and Mexico (May 2008).
The debut CD of L'Armonia Sonora was released on the RAMÉE label in 2006 consisting of early German cantatas in cooperation with the bass Peter Kooij (as heard in the Utrecht Early Music Festival of 2007). The CD received international acclaim on several occasions (***** Diapason, BBC Award).
In 2008 L'Armonia Sonora released a CD of Bach Sonatas for viola da gamba in different settings, also for RAMEE. This CD was also awarded a Diapason *****.
“Harmoniae Sacrae” (German dialogue cantatas) with Peter Kooij and Hana Blazíkovà has been released in 2009.
Cooperation with other ensembles results in programs such as 'Salve mi Jesu', motets by Johann Rosenmuller, together with Concerto Palatino and 3 vocal soloists, and 'O nata lux', English consort music with Trinity Boys Choir, London.
Concert L'Armonia Sonora, Concerto Palatino, ROSENMULLER CANTATAS
Hana Blazíkovà, Robin Blaze, Peter Kooi - Early Music Festival Utrecht, August 2012