Introducing: Les Ambassadeurs, directed by Alexis Kossenko

This Summer has seen the birth of a new baroque ensemble, 'Les Ambassadeurs'. Founded by flute virtuoso Alexis Kossenko, this newly born ensemble realises a dream of a pan-European orchestra combining the performance on period instruments with a wide repertoire hitherto fragmented by specialization.

According to Alexis Kossenko, its mission is "to share with as wide a public as possible the infinite range of emotions conveyed by the experience of music."

Away from dogmas, fashions and schools, Les Ambassadeurs pursue an ideal of eloquence — where the grammar of period instruments, the art of rhetoric and musical instinct do not exclude each other.

Les Ambassadeurs takes particular interest in the rediscovery of the Dresden Hofkapelle in the time of Bach, described as “the most beautiful orchestra in the world” for its exemplary discipline, virtuosity of its musicians, its shimmering colors which made it the first “modern” orchestra. It was in Dresden that Italian, French and German styles unite and give birth to the “Goûts Réunis” treasured by Telemann.

Following the example of the Dresden Hofkapelle, Kossenko brought together musicians from all parts of Europe.

After acclaimed concerts at “Bozar” (Palais des Beaux-Arts) in Brussels, at the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris and the Potsdam Festival Sanssouci, the 2011-2012 Season will take Les Ambassadeurs & Alexis Kossenko to Austria, France, Poland, Bulgaria, Latvia and Slovenia.

Future plans include a disc of works by Mozart (concert arias, piano concerto and opera overtures) in collaboration with Alpha records.

Click here for more information about Les Ambassadeurs.

Forthcoming concerts:

Les Ambassadeurs
Dir. Alexis Kossenko

19-28 August 2011
Concerts at the Festiwal Muzyka w Raju, Paradyz (Poland)
www.muzykawraju.pl

19 August 2011
Monastery of Goscikowo-Paradyz, 19h

A concert for August der Starcke :
Vivaldi - Quantz - Heinichen - Zelenka – Pisendel

Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

Zefira Valova : solo violin
Anneke Scott & Ursula Paludan Monberg : horn
Georges Barthel & Manuel Granatiero : flute
Lidewei de Sterck & Katharina Andres : oboe
Moni Fischaleck : bassoon

20 August 2011
Monastery of Goscikowo-Paradyz, 19h

Mozart in London :
Abel - J.C.Bach - Haydn – Mozart

Les Ambassadeurs Chamber Ensemble
Allan Rasmussen : harpsichord
Irma Niskanen, Isabelle Bania & Yannis Roger : violin
Laurent Muller & Gabriel Bania : viola
Marco Frezzato : cello
Vega Montero : double-bass
Alexis Kossenko, Georges Barthel & Manuel Granatiero : flute
Anneke Scott & Ursula Paludan Monberg : horn
Lidewei de Sterck : oboe

21 August 2011 - Paradyz (Poland)
Monastery of Goscikowo-Paradyz, 19h

Virtuoso winds in Dresden :
Fasch - Petzold – Telemann

Les Ambassadeurs Chamber Ensemble
Alexis Kossenko & Moni Fischaleck : recorder
Georges Barthel & Manuel Granatiero : flute
Ursula Paludan Monberg & Anneke Scott &: horn
Lidewei de Sterck & Katharina Andres : oboe
Moni Fischaleck : bassoon
Barbara Altobello & Ivan Iliev : violin
Laurent Muller & Gabriel Bania : viola
Tom Pitt : cello
Vega Montero : double-bass
Allan Rasmussen : harpsichord

25/08/11 - Paradyz (Poland)
Monastery of Goscikowo-Paradyz, 19h

The travels of Wolfgang :
Hasse - Gluck - J.Ch.Bach - Rameau – Mozart

Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

SOLOISTS :
Zefira Valova, Barbara Altobello, Ivan Iliev : violin
Georges Barthel : flute
Marco Frezzato : cello

28 August 2011 - Paradyz (Poland)
Monastery of Goscikowo-Paradyz, 19h

L'Allemagne à l'heure française :
Lully - Campra - Rebel - Telemann - Zelenka – Pisendel

Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

SOLOISTS :
Zefira Valova, Barbara Altobello : violin
Alexis Kossenko & Manuel Granatiero : flute
Tom Pitt : cello

4 September 2011 - Turjak (Slovenia)
Grad Turjak (Turjak Castle), 20h30
(Brezice Early Music Festival)

A concert for August der Starcke :
Vivaldi - Quantz - Heinichen - Zelenka – Pisendel

Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

SOLOISTS :
Zefira Valova : solo violin
Anneke Scott & Ursula Paludan Monberg : horn
Alexis Kossenko & Georges Barthel : flute
Lidewei de Sterck & Katharina Andres : oboe
Moni Fischaleck : bassoon

9 September 2011 - St-Veit (Austria)

Lumières & Ténèbres :
Hasse - Zelenka - Haendel - Lotti - Vivaldi – Heinichen

Sabine Devieilhe, soprano
Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

25 October 2011 - Sofia (Bulgaria)
Bulgaria-Hall, Sofia
(Sofia Baroque Festival)
http://www.luxuriaeuropae.com/

"Per l'orchestra di Dresda" :
Zelenka - Haendel - Vivaldi - Heinichen

Alain Buet, baryton
Les Ambassadeurs
dir. Alexis Kossenko

28 October 2011 - Sofia (Bulgaria)
Bulgaria-Hall, Sofia
(Sofia Baroque Festival)

Mendelssohn - Mercadante - Rossini - Bellini
string symphonies, concertos, opera arias