Italian Christmas

Matthias Brandt, reading 
Dorothee Mields, soprano
Ensemble “Li Piffari e le muse” 
Set 1700
Conductor and recorder: Dorothee Oberlinger

"Pastoral" – Baroque instrumental and vocal music from Corelli to Vivaldi, Neapolitan Christmas carols, etc.
Texts by Fanny Lewald, Turi Vasile and others

“The Pifferari were originally shepherds near Rome who played their instruments in the Campagna: hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, fiddle, and flute. To this day, the tradition continues that Pifferari come down from the mountains at Christmas and then play typical Italian Christmas carols in the city,” says flautist Dorothee Oberlinger, who drew inspiration from this custom for her star-studded “Pastorale” program and is even bringing real Pifferari with her this evening! Exquisite instrumental and vocal Baroque music from Italy will evoke the anticipation of the holidays – from delicate and virtuosic to exuberantly folksy. Matthias Brandt will provide literary interludes, including excerpts from Fanny Lewald’s “Italian Picture Book” (1847) and from the childhood memoirs of the Sicilian Turi Vasile.