Biography
Germany's La Folia Barockorchester characterizes its approach with the phrase "having the real guts for ancient music." The historical-instrument ensemble, headquartered in Dresden, regularly revives obscure works tied to the city's Baroque court.
Robin Peter Müller established the ensemble in 2007 and continues to serve as its concertmaster and artistic director. The name derives from the melody La Folia, which supplied the foundation for many Baroque pieces and evoked notions of inventiveness and creative liberty. Its core repertoire centers on the influential Dresden court repertory, encompassing composers such as Antonio Lotti, Johann David Heinichen, and Johann Adolf Hasse. One project, the album Rediscovered Treasures from Dresden, explored a cache of unattributed manuscripts discovered in a cabinet behind the organ of the Dresden Hofkirche; the musicians deliberately omitted scholarly commentary and left the composers unidentified.
The orchestra also interprets canonical Baroque figures including Handel and Vivaldi, the latter featured on its debut release, The Vivaldi Files, issued in 2010. In 2014 it issued Antonio Vivaldi: Concerti Furiosi through Deutsche Harmonia Mundi. Joint appearances have included performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Ensemble scale adjusts to each undertaking, extending from a complete late-Baroque orchestra to smaller chamber configurations. Among its frequent partners are sopranos Dorothee Mields and Simone Kermes together with viola da gamba player Hille Perl.
In 2021 the group participated in the Rheingau Music Festival, presenting Baroque opera arias inside the Basilica of Eberbach Abbey alongside four vocal soloists. Its recording affiliations have encompassed the Stockfisch, Accent, and Alpha labels; on Accent it accompanied contralto Julia Böhme for the album Seconda Donna. In 2024 the orchestra transferred to Berlin Classics, supporting bassoonist Sophie Dervaux in a collection of Vivaldi bassoon concertos.
Robin Peter Müller established the ensemble in 2007 and continues to serve as its concertmaster and artistic director. The name derives from the melody La Folia, which supplied the foundation for many Baroque pieces and evoked notions of inventiveness and creative liberty. Its core repertoire centers on the influential Dresden court repertory, encompassing composers such as Antonio Lotti, Johann David Heinichen, and Johann Adolf Hasse. One project, the album Rediscovered Treasures from Dresden, explored a cache of unattributed manuscripts discovered in a cabinet behind the organ of the Dresden Hofkirche; the musicians deliberately omitted scholarly commentary and left the composers unidentified.
The orchestra also interprets canonical Baroque figures including Handel and Vivaldi, the latter featured on its debut release, The Vivaldi Files, issued in 2010. In 2014 it issued Antonio Vivaldi: Concerti Furiosi through Deutsche Harmonia Mundi. Joint appearances have included performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Ensemble scale adjusts to each undertaking, extending from a complete late-Baroque orchestra to smaller chamber configurations. Among its frequent partners are sopranos Dorothee Mields and Simone Kermes together with viola da gamba player Hille Perl.
In 2021 the group participated in the Rheingau Music Festival, presenting Baroque opera arias inside the Basilica of Eberbach Abbey alongside four vocal soloists. Its recording affiliations have encompassed the Stockfisch, Accent, and Alpha labels; on Accent it accompanied contralto Julia Böhme for the album Seconda Donna. In 2024 the orchestra transferred to Berlin Classics, supporting bassoonist Sophie Dervaux in a collection of Vivaldi bassoon concertos.
Albums
