CZECHKONCERT
The PRAGUE MADRIGALIST
Leader: Damiano BINETTI
The History of the ensemble dates back to the late 50s of the 20th century when organist and conductor Miroslav Venhoda was the first person to started to become concerned with the almost unknown or even forgotten manuscripts and copies deposited in monasteries, churches or archives between Prague and Kroměříž. Under his guidance these compositions were later performed, first of all with a small cast corresponding in style, and with adequate interpretative intension. In its almost 4O-year operation under M. Venhoda´s leadership this ensemble has presented itself at prestigious international music festivals and concert tours all around Europe, in Canada, the USA and Russia. Thanks to much hard work in the long-term it has risen to become a well-respected ensemble in its sphere.
After the collapse of the East-block dictatorship and a period of insecurity the ensemble transformed itself into an independent company in 1995. At the same time the Italian singer and conductor Damiano Binetti became the new artistic leader, introducing a new type of interpretative philosophy and in the process renewing international respect for the ensamble and its good reputation. Under his guidance the Prague Madrigalists took part in prominent international music festivals in The Czech Republic as well as abroad - i.e. The Prague Spring, Janáček´s Ostrava, the Summer Baroque Festival in Český Krumlov, Tibor Varga de Sion (Switzerland), Festival de Wallonie in Belgium, the Summer Festival in Dubrovnik (Croatia), Festival Monteverdi di Cremona, Giovane Gioventú Musicale di Genova, Settembre Musica in Torino, Mittelfest in Cividale del Friuli (Italy), Festival internacional de Santander (Spain), Festival de Música Antigua de Elche (Spain), Les soirées Musicales de Marseille and many others. A new trend is the ensemble's participation in concert seasons in Italian theatres. There are dramaturgically innovatory programs in early 90s which ushered in the oldest polyphonic non-sacral pieces - in cooperation with actors and the ballet there were performed for instance, a madrigal comedy La barca di Venetia per Padua by Adrian Banchieri or a masterpiece of the late polyphony Amphiparnaso by Oratio Vecchi. These and other compositions were performed at Italian opera theatres in Parma, Piacenza, Milano and Torino and afterwards in Spain: Madrid, Vigo or San Sebastian. A positive response by the public as well as experts, especially European critics, allowed the ensemble to achieve broader recognition with its new look, new cast and first and foremost its new Italian leadership.
From the last ensemble's successes, one in particular must be pointed out - the Prague Madrigalists participated in the prestigious international baroque music festival of Ivan Lukacic in Varazdin, held under the patronage of the President of Croatia where the ensemble in 2001 won the Best Interpretation Prize and eventually the approbation of the President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel.
During the long years of the ensemble's existence, the Prague Madrigalists have so far recorded several tens of records for recording companies such as Supraphon, Panton, Valois or Dynamic. Many recordings were launched for Czech as well as foreign radio and television stations - Czech Radio, Czech Television, Deutsche Rundfunk, Radiotelevisione Italia RAI, Radio France International and Radiotelevisión Espaňa.
DAMIANO BINETTI - ARTISTIC LEADER
Damiano Binetti was born in Italy in 1968. He studied Canto with Anna Maria Balboni, Composition with Nicola Scardicchio and Orchestra conducting with Piero Bellugi and Roberto Duarte at the Piccinni Conservatory of Music in Bari. In 1991 he came from Italy to study conducting at the Academy of Music in Prague with Frantisek Vajnar for Opera Conducting and with Radomil Eliska for Sacred and Symphonic Repertoire. In Prague he was also accepted as a resident member of the prestigious Prague Madrigalists of which he has been appointed conductor since 1995. In 1994 he took part at a Course in the interpretation of music by J. S. Bach under the guidance of Helmuth Rilling. As the first guest conductor of the Prague Mozart Orchestra he has performed a vast Mozart repertoire such as Requiem in d-minor, Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni and most of the Mozart symphonic repertoire, in the most prestigious concert halls in Prague such as the A. Dvorak hall at Rudolfinum and the Smetana hall at Obecni Dum.
Since 1998 he co-operated with Suk Chamber Orchestra, Hradec Kralove Philarmonic, Dvořák Symphony Orchestra, Marienbad Symphony Orchestra. In this year he worked on a wide repertoire which includes works from Puccini, Šostakovič, Koželuh, Míča, Mussorgsky, Dvořák, Mahler, Mozart, Verdi, etc.
In the year 2001 he received first place at the festival-competition of Ivan Lukacic in Varaždin (Croatia). In the season 2002 he gave his successful debut at the Opera Theatre in Olmutz, conducting Puccini´s Madama Butterfly in ballet version, and with a personal musical arrangement. At the present he is the first guest conductor in the Opera Theater Opava (Moravia). He performed all across Europe, participating in many of the most renowned music festivals such as Tibor Varga in Sion, Switzerland, Festival de Wallonie in Belgium, the Prague Spring Festival, Landshut Musik Sommer, Settembre Musica in Turin, Italy, GOG Festival in Genoa, Italy, Festival C. Monteverdi in Cremona, Italy, Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan, Estate Musicale in Catania, Italy. He conducted in Spain at the Teatro Monumental in Madrid and Teatro Eugenia Victoria in San Sebastian. He also conducted in Italy at the Teatro Regio in Parma, Teatro Comunale in Modena, Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Teatro Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste, Auditorium RAI (Radio Televisione Italiana) in Milan and Turin and at the prestigious Teatro Piccolo in Milan. As Opera conductor he also performed in Portugal, Greece, Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Slovenia and Croatia, South Corea.
He has recorded 12 compact-discs, with different programs, from operas to the Symphonic repertoire and from the Baroque to the Renaissance repertoire. He performed and recorded at various radios and televisions across Europe such as the Czech radio and television and the Slovak radio and television. In Germany, Radio Bremen in Bremen, MDR in Leipzig and Deutch Bayerisch Radio in Munich and Deutchland Radio in Zwinger in Dresden. The Belgium National Radio, the Croatia National Television and in France and Italy at the Radio France International and RAI - Radio Televisione Italiana.