Jean-Christophe Frisch

http://www.xviii-21.com/

About the artist

Since founding XVIII-21 Le Baroque Nomade, Jean-Christophe Frisch has travelled the world over, devoting himself to exchanges and encounters of European Baroque music with various forms of traditional music. This conductor’s powerful musical adventure is also a human adventure with the musicians, which is transmitted to the audience through emotion and the humanism that underpins every project.

The concerts and shows directed by this conductor, nicknamed ’the Indiana Jones of Baroque music’ by his musicians, have been described in numerous articles as absolutely exceptional performances : ’A cultural revelation. The resulting sound is gripping. Past master in this subtle to-and-fro between the Same and the Other’ (Télérama), ’XVIII-21 plays on contrasts as on relationships with a skill that succeeds in respecting the poet’s share. [...] novelty of the approach, the quality of the interpretation and the musicological rigour of the chosen options...’ (Le Monde), ’Essential’ (classicnews.com), ’Admirable spirit of imagination’ (Early Music Review)...

His energy and charisma transport the listener into a poetic, sensitive world.

’That is called infinite respect’ (Télérama).

About the concert programme

Originated from French Provence, born in the late 17th century, Buffardin reaches Paris were he learns playing the German flute (newly invented traverso), before heading out to Constantinople as a musician attached to the service of Charles de Ferriol, Louis XIV’s ambassador. That is where he meets Johann Jakob Bach, Johann Sebastian’s older brother, and teaches him how to play his new flute. He then follows Johan Jakob in Dresden, where he meets Johan Sebastian Bach, and becomes friend with him, which leads him to Leipzig in 1724, to the Bach family.

In Dresden, he teaches to Johann Johachim Quantz. Traverso usage spreads in Germany, thanks to Buffardin who becomes solo flute for the Dresden orchestra, most likely the best of the world at the time. He receives outlandish salaries. He regularily travels to Paris to perform with the Concert spirituel.

Probably influenced by his visit to Constantinople, he is the inventor of the use of quarter tones on the flute, but Charles de Lusse steals his invention.

Jean-Christophe Frisch tells, between pieces, how Bach’s brother has learned the usage of the German flute in Constantinople from a French!