The
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (FBO) has soared to fame and success in
almost record time. Their concert venues alone indicate that the FBO has
long since left the niche of "Old Music", ranking now among
the most popular chamber orchestras in the world.
The joyously infectious performances of the FBO
musicians demonstrate that music performed on period instruments can be
not only of the highest professional standard but also a pleasure to
play.
Commenting on the release of their CD of Vivaldi´s
Four Seasons, a critic remarked that in the ensemble´s performance
there was not much left that was old about their music. "This is
pure avant-garde", he wrote.
They have remained true to their original intention to
work together on a democratic basis, convinced that this is the most
appropriate form for them artistically as well as in organisational
matters. Their decision to perform without a conductor - even symphonic
programs of the early Romantic period - is thus quite deliberate,
reviving a tradition practised right into the 19th century.
The Orchestra is in the rather unique position of
being able to call on members of its own ranks to perform even the most
difficult solo parts. This shows not only the high standard of each
individual musician but also presents the FBO´s advantage whereby
virtuoso solo parts are not simply accompanied by the Tutti, but, as was
common practice in the 17th and 18th centuries, are consciously blended
into the whole ensemble.