Altri Stromenti : 17th century baroque ensemble
Wroclaw's Period Instruments Ensemble "Altri Stromenti" has existed since 1992. Its name - "other instruments", brings to mind baroque practice which allowed changing of voices in compositions. It also reveals the special character of the period instruments, i.e.: means "different" from contemporary ensembles.
The repertoire of Altri Stromenti comprises both "classical" as well as less well known 17th century baroque compositions which the group reconstructs and presents during "Baroque Concerts" organized in the House under the Golden Sun in Wroclaw (these concerts were started by the group and more than 50 have been presented).
Altri Stromenti performed also in Germany, France and Czech Republic ("Monuments en musique" festival in Strasbourg, International Festival of Early Music in Cracow, at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and three times during international festival "Wratislavia Cantans" in Wroclaw.
About the music director:
Leszek Firek graduated in the violin class of doc. Stefan Czermak of the Wroclaw Music Academy. He also studies baroque violin for two years at the Cracow Music Academy under the guidance of Zygmunt Kaczmarski, which was followed by three-year studies with Simon Standage at the Akademie fur Alte Musik. Firek has taken part in master classes with I.Seifert, M.Comberti, L.van Dael, J.Leertouver and M.Troost. He plays violin the early music ensembles Arte dei Suonatori, Concerto Polacco as well as the baroque orchestra Ganz Europa (directed by Simon Standage) as 2nd concert master.
Firek is also a member of Dresdner Barockorchester.
Firek has recorded more than ten records with various ensembles including two records by Altri Stromenti. He taught at the Music Academy in Wroclaw and now is the head of Interdepartment Section of Early Music in Wroclaw's State Music School of the 2nd Degree. Leszek Firek plays authentic violin by a French violin maker Pierre Delaunay, Paris 1763 and Franz Placht,1783. |