ConTAKT

October 9, 2024

A rather extravagant man
News about Johann Hieronymus Kapsberger

Guest performers at the Accademia degli Stravaganti: Anne Marie Dragosits (harpsichord),
Ulrike Hofbauer (soprano), Niels Pfeffer (theorbo)
Moderators: Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl

The internationally acclaimed Tyrolean musician Anne Marie Dragosits, recipient of the 2022 Jakob Stainer Prize from the Province of Tyrol, has in recent years devoted herself intensively to the life and work of a grand master of the early Baroque, Johann Hieronymus (or Giovanni Girolamo) Kapsberger. In her comprehensive and insightful book *Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger – Ein ziemlich extravaganter Mann* (Lucca 2020), she has published groundbreaking new findings regarding his biography and has also reevaluated the existing view of the work of this great lute virtuoso and composer. This exciting scholarly journey of discovery is not yet over: she continues to comb through the archives and keeps finding new documents. In the first part of the evening, she will discuss her research and give us a deeper understanding of Kapsberger’s personality. In the second part, an approximately one-hour concert, she will transport us, together with soprano Ulrike Hofbauer and lutenist Niels Pfeffer, into the musical world of the cosmopolitan master, who was born in Venice, attended school in Augsburg, and established himself in Rome.  

 

Dec. 4, 2024

The Monk in the Rose Garden
On the Life of the Carthusian Monk and Translator Heinrich Haller in the Late Middle Ages

Guest: Max Siller (Germanist), Ensemble Rosarum flores
Idea, concept, and moderation by Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl
 
Max Siller, Professor Emeritus of Medieval German Studies at the University of Innsbruck, will present a comprehensive overview of the life and work of the Carthusian monk Heinrich Haller, who lived at the Schnals Charterhouse in the Middle Ages. As a monk, he was not allowed to leave his cell, but his translations took him on imagined pilgrimages and fantastical journeys to otherworldly realms—both terrifying and paradisiacal. The event will feature music from the period, including works by Oswald von Wolkenstein and selections from the fascinating Codex 457 of the University Library of Innsbruck, which originates from the Schnals Charterhouse.

 

Jan. 22, 2025

Tuba mirum. The Trombone in the Classical and Romantic Periods
Featuring Bernhard Rainer and the Marini Consort Innsbruck
Idea, concept, and moderation by Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl

Following up on one of our recent ConTakt events, in which trombonist and musicologist Bernhard Rainer and the Marini Consort Innsbruck explored the trombone in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, we now turn to the instrument’s continued evolution in the Classical and Romantic eras. The trombone has proven to be enduring and versatile. We once again immerse ourselves in exciting worlds of sound—guided by renowned specialists.

Tyrol boasts an extremely vibrant early music scene. A wide range of activities attests to the high caliber of local musicians and the intense dedication of the organizers. The strong reception from audiences is proof of the special significance of this musical genre in the region. ConTakt serves as a platform for the early music scene in Tyrol and as an open forum for musicians, organizers, and interested listeners. It offers a broad spectrum of diverse formats, ranging from discussions and lectures by musicians and instrument makers to concert talks and workshops with an educational focus, as well as presentations of instruments and collections. Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl are responsible for the idea, concept, and moderation; the event is sponsored by the Haus der Musik Innsbruck and Innsbruck Tourism, and is supported and co-sponsored by the Tyrolean State Museums.

2/19/25

Rebellious Songs: Marking 500 Years of the Peasants’ War
Guests include Robert Rebitsch, historian at the University of Innsbruck
Idea, concept, and moderation by Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl

This event focuses on the peasant uprisings that broke out in many places across the Holy Roman Empire 500 years ago and went down in history as the “Peasants’ Wars.” In his latest book, “Rebellion 1525,” Tyrolean historian Robert Rebitsch has thoroughly examined the subject of these uprisings and, above all, their manifestation in Tyrol. He recounts the events and offers new interpretations and corrections of clichéd images, for example regarding the Tyrolean peasant leader Michael Gaismair. The event will feature songs and chants from the early 16th century that reflect the social conflicts of the time.