George Frideric Handel - Il Floridante (Cembaless)

Information

Composer: George Frideric Handel

• Il Floridante, HWV 14

Cembaless

    Elisabeth von Stritzky, vocals

    David Hanke, recorder

    Anna Lachegyi, viola da gamba

    Annabell Opelt, recorder

    Robbert Vermeulen, theorbo

    Stefan Koim, baroque guitar & archlute

    Syavash Rastani, persian drums

&

Florian Wintels, poetry reciter

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos

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Cembaless presents a fresh and inventive arrangement of Il Floridante by George Frideric Handel, distinguished by its unconventional instrumentation and the unique choice of having all vocal parts performed by a single soprano, Elisabeth von Stritzky. The digital album also features Florian Wintels, whose spoken-word interpretations reframe the libretto around themes of morality, courage, and justice. Known for omitting the harpsichord, the ensemble explores innovative performance practices. Their debut album Passacaglia della Vita received nominations for major awards, highlighting their experimental and expressive artistic approach.

Cembaless distinguishes itself through its unconventional approach to early music, notably omitting the harpsichord (cembalo) and embracing a rare, innovative instrumentation. The ensemble combines passion and sensitivity with creative experimentation, crafting performances that are both aurally rich and spatially engaging, blending vibrant rhythms with intimate expression. Their artistic impact is reflected in multiple audience awards at competitions such as Biagio Marini (2015) and ZAMUS-Spielweise (2016). Their album Passacaglia della Vita reinterprets 17th-century repertoire with a modern perspective, incorporating elements like Persian drum and hip-hop influences, aiming to connect historical music traditions with contemporary listeners.