18.Baha kamermūzikas festivāls. Somu baroka orķestris (FIBO). Myriam Arbouz (soprāns, Francija)

Finnish Baroque Orchestra (FIBO)

New commissions for period instruments, fresh interpretations of old repertoire, courageous and innovative working methods, unique concepts that engage a diverse audience – FiBO offers all this while being an influential force in the Nordic cultural scene.

Founded in 1989, the Finnish Baroque Orchestra has consolidated its position within the Finnish orchestral scene. Since its inception, FiBO has collaborated with some of the foremost soloists and concertmasters of the age and performed a wide-ranging repertoire. The focus is generally on Baroque music, but the orchestra often explores works from other periods too, from early Baroque to early Romanticism. FiBO also plays contemporary music composed for period instruments, and has even commissioned several works itself. The musicians of the core ensemble often perform as chamber musicians. In its largest manifestations the orchestra can be heard playing symphony-orchestra repertoire and in opera performances.

FiBO regularly performs as orchestra in residence at the festive House of Nobility in Helsinki and tours widely across Finland. The orchestra also frequently performs at major Finnish festivals including the Helsinki Festival, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, and the Turku Music Festival. Abroad FiBO has given performances at concert halls across Germany, Austria and the Nordic countries.

Throughout its history, FiBO has been a forerunner in the Finnish music scene. Beginning life as the Sixth Floor Orchestra, it has played an important role in the emergence of the early-music movement in Northern Europe. As the orchestra has developed, FiBO’s exciting performances, creative programming and innovative projects, notably the audience outreach work of the FiBO Collegium, have caught the attention of concert organisers both in Finland and abroad. From widening economic support at home to growing popularity abroad, and with awards including Finnish Musical Act of the Year and Disc of the Year (Yle), FiBO continues to forge a unique path as a Baroque orchestra for the 21st century.

Moramoramor, the first album by FiBO Records, was released in November 2017 and has received a warm welcome. It contains the third and fifth Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach, concertos by Vivaldi with the orchestra’s own soloists, and Jukka Tiensuu’s Mora, the first Finnish piece composed for a large Baroque orchestra. It is possible to buy the album from FiBO’s online store.

"High-level instrumental performance was heard this year in, among others, the riveting music-making of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra."

Myriam Arbouz (soprano), France

 Laureat of the Froville International Baroque Singing Competition in 2017 and laureat of the Royaumont Foundation, French Soprano Myriam Arbouz is a young versatile artist in great demand on the international stage for the agility and flexibility of her warm and rich lyric voice. 

This year's season includes the role of Calliope in La Morte d'Orfeo by Stefano Landi with Les Talens Lyriques conducted by Christophe Rousset at the Festival de Royaumont. She sang Bach's four Missa Brevis at Perugia's 72nd Sagra Musciale Umbria and Pisa's 17th Anima Mundi Festival, Bach's Christmas Oratorio in The Netherlands, “A Tribute Concert to François Couperin” at Oxford Keble Early Music Festival with Edward Higginbottom, Bach's St. Matthew Passion in the Netherlands and Germany, Charpentier's Leçons de ténèbres in Paris, and Handel Cantatas with Benjamin Alard as part of Andrea Marcon's concert series in Treviso.
Myriam Arbouz recently gave a Handel recital with Les Muffatti led from the violin by Rachael Beesley at the Salle Gaveau in Paris and at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Charleroi.

Last years' season highlights includes performances of Trauernacht at The Bolshoï Theater with Ensemble Pygmalion conducted by Raphaël Pichon, Bach's St. John Passion with The Netherlands Bach Society, conducted by Jos van Veldhoven. A live recording is now available for streaming at allofbach.com. She also performed The Anna Magdalena Bach Book together with the internationally acclaimed harpsichordist, Benjamin Alard in France and at the Istanbul Bach Days. With the Auvergne Symphony Orchestra, she sang in Mendelssohn's Midsummer night's dream at Festival de La Chaise-Dieu. She also recently recorded Johann Schelle's Christmas Cantatas with Die Kölner Akademie for CPO. 

Myriam Arbouz made her debut appeareance at the Dutch National Opera in Trauernacht in 2015, with subsequent performances at the Gulbekian Fundation Lisbon, Comédie de Valence and Arras Theatre. She sang under the baton of René Jacobs the role of Ottavia in L'incoronazione di Poppea and Euridice in L'Orfeo by Monteverdi at Royaumont's Abbaye. She sang the role of Marzia in Catone in Utica by Handel, world premiere recreation staged by Giovanni Guerrieri under the baton of Carlo Ipata at Opera Barga Festival in Italy.

Myriam Arbouz sings an extensive repertoire from early baroque works to the most recent contemporary creations, under the baton of Raphaël Pichon, René Jacobs, Christophe Rousset, Richard Egarr, Ton Koopman, Antony Hermus, Roberto Forès Veses, Antonio Mendez, Lucas Vis, Emmanuelle Haïm, Bertrand de Billy, Jos van Veldhoven, Pierre Cao with several famous European ensembles including Pygmalion, De Nederlandse Bachvereniging, Le Concert d'Astrée, Les Talens Lyriques, Cappella Amsterdam, Luthers Bach Ensemble, Aedes, Die Kölner Akademie, La Rêveuse, Le Banquet Céleste, Il Convito, Faenza, Les Muffati. Myriam Arbouz is a founding member of Ensemble Pygmalion conducted by Raphaël Pichon with whom she took part in several concerts, tours and recordings.

Myriam Arbouz joined the Maîtrise de Bretagne-Children choir of Brittany at the age of eight, developing her passion for singing with Jean-Michel Noël and making her first steps on stage at the Rennes Opera House. She took part in numerous concerts, recordings and tours. Myriam Arbouz studied at Rennes' Conservatory and then at the Center for Baroque Music in Versailles. Subsequently she graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Amsterdam Conservatory. She was then selected to join the Dutch National Opera Academy where she received her Master's degree in Opera.