Paul de Wit - Transformator des Gambenspiels. Konzert mit Thomas Fritzsch und Michael Schönheit

Concert with Thomas Fritzsch (viola da gamba) and Michael Schönheit (harpsichord, fortepiano)

Program:
Louis de Caix d'Hervelois (around 1680-1759)
Old French Christmas Carol (Prèlude. Lentement)

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
Sonata in G minor, Wq 88

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Air
from: Overture in D major, BWV 1068

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Sonata in C major

Thomas Fritzsch performs in European concert halls as well as on the stages of the major cities of New York, Boston, Tokyo, Seoul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Havana, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Jerusalem. With passion and brilliant historical knowledge, Thomas Fritzsch searches for, discovers and edits lost and forgotten works of viola da gamba literature. His spectacular premieres and CD recordings of music found by Johann Christian Bach, Carl Friedrich Abel, Georg Philipp Telemann, Joseph Fiala, Dieterich Buxtehude and 19th century viola da gamba music were awarded the Echo Klassik 2017 and a Choc de Classica 2019, among others, and caused a worldwide sensation in the music scene. As an international promoter of the music of Bach and Abel, Thomas Fritzsch was appointed ambassador of the Bach-Abel city of Köthen in 2014 and special ambassador of the Burgenland district in 2017.

Michael Schönheit studied conducting, piano and organ at the Leipzig University of Music. In 1984, he won the VII. International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition Leipzig in the organ category. From 1985 to 1991, he worked as organist and cantor in Saalfeld. In 1986 he was appointed organist at the Gewandhaus. His work here includes organizing the Gewandhaus organ concerts, thematic cycles, playing in the Gewandhaus chamber music ensembles and performing as a soloist with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. In 2023, Michael Schönheit played the first performance of Walter Braunfels' Organ Concerto at the Gewandhaus since its premiere in Leipzig in 1928. Michael Schönheit has been artistic director of the Merseburg Organ Festival since 1994 and cathedral organist in Merseburg since 1996. In 1998 he founded the Ensemble Merseburger Hofmusik. From 1998 to 2005, Michael Schönheit conducted the Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Choir Hamburg. Michael Schönheit is an internationally sought-after guest organist. His concert activities extend beyond European countries to the USA and Japan. In addition to the Gewandhaus Orchestra, he has also appeared as a soloist with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Munich Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Michael Schönheit has been a member of the board of the Silbermann Society Freiberg for many years; radio, television and CD productions complement his versatile artistic activities.