Maria Cristina Kiehr
Encyclopedia
María Cristina Kiehr is a soprano
vocalist associated with Baroque music
. After receiving her early musical training in Argentina
, she moved in 1983 to Europe and studied under René Jacobs at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
, specializing in the Baroque repertoire. She performs and records for the Harmonia Mundi
label.Harmonia Mundi, op. cit.
, Argentina
.Oron, op. cit
She made her opera debut at Innsbruck
in 1988 in Il Giasone
, a work composed by Francesco Cavalli
in 1649. In collaboration with the harpsichord
ist Jean-Marc Aymes, Kiehr founded the Concerto Soave ensemble, a concerto in the original meaning of the word, which specializes in Italian music
of the early baroque period. With them she has toured many of the world's most prestigious early music festivals, including the Utrecht
Early Music Festival, Ambronay
, Pontoise
, Simiane-la-Rotonde
, Semaine Sainte en Arles, and in Montreux, Lausanne, Marseille, and Paris (Cité de la Musique
).
Her recording of Maddalena ai Piedi di Cristo with René Jacobs won a Grammy award
in 1997.CLB Management (March 2007). "Biography".
Her voice is especially suited to performing the work of neglected Italian female composers of the Early Baroque such as Barbara Strozzi
and Francesca Caccini
. Though she is known as a champion of little known works and composers, she is also sought after for her interpretations of Henry Purcell
and Claudio Monteverdi
.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
vocalist associated with Baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
. After receiving her early musical training in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, she moved in 1983 to Europe and studied under René Jacobs at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a music academy and research institution located in Basel, Switzerland, and focusing on early music and historically informed performance....
, specializing in the Baroque repertoire. She performs and records for the Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi
Harmonia Mundi is an independent music record label founded in 1958 by Bernard Coutaz in Arles . The Latin phrase means "world harmony"....
label.Harmonia Mundi, op. cit.
Overview
María Cristina Kiehr was born in TandilTandil
-Place name:The name of the city comes from the Mapuche words tan , and lil . It is probably a reference to the Piedra Movediza , a large boulder which stood seemingly miraculously balanced on the edge of a rocky foothill. The Moving Stone toppled on February 29, 1912, and split into two pieces at...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.Oron, op. cit
She made her opera debut at Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
in 1988 in Il Giasone
Giasone
Giasone is an opera in three acts and a prologue with music by Francesco Cavalli and a libretto by Giacinto Andrea Cicognini. It was premiered at the Teatro San Cassiano, Venice on 5 January 1649, during carnival. Giasone was "the single most popular opera of the 17th century"...
, a work composed by Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli was an Italian composer of the early Baroque period. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron Federico Cavalli, a Venetian nobleman.-Life:Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy...
in 1649. In collaboration with the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist Jean-Marc Aymes, Kiehr founded the Concerto Soave ensemble, a concerto in the original meaning of the word, which specializes in Italian music
Italian classical music
-Art Music:"Art music" is a somewhat broader term than "classical music" and may be defined for the purposes of this article as "establishment" music that is composed for public or private performance. By definition, it excludes popular musical forms that are based on folk music...
of the early baroque period. With them she has toured many of the world's most prestigious early music festivals, including the Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
Early Music Festival, Ambronay
Ambronay
Ambronay is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. It is situated some north of Ambérieu-en-Bugey.-Abbey:...
, Pontoise
Pontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
, Simiane-la-Rotonde
Simiane-la-Rotonde
Simiane-la-Rotonde is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Semaine Sainte en Arles, and in Montreux, Lausanne, Marseille, and Paris (Cité de la Musique
Cité de la Musique
The Cité de la Musique is a group of institutions dedicated to music and situated in the La Villette quarter, 19th arrondissement, Paris, France. It was designed by the architect Christian de Portzamparc and opened in 1995...
).
Her recording of Maddalena ai Piedi di Cristo with René Jacobs won a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1997.CLB Management (March 2007). "Biography".
Her voice is especially suited to performing the work of neglected Italian female composers of the Early Baroque such as Barbara Strozzi
Barbara Strozzi
Barbara Strozzi was an Italian Baroque singer and composer.-Life:...
and Francesca Caccini
Francesca Caccini
Francesca Caccini was an Italian composer, singer, lutenist, poet, and music teacher of the early Baroque era. She was the daughter of Giulio Caccini, and was one of the best-known and most influential female European composers between Hildegard of Bingen in the 12th century and the 19th century...
. Though she is known as a champion of little known works and composers, she is also sought after for her interpretations of Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
and Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
.
Critical reactions
Critical reactions to Kiehr's voice are often ecstatic:- Richard Buell, Boston Globe, "Think of a glowing filament, only in sound; the beautiful thinness of Hesperion XX's lead singer Monserrat Figueras's voice, only larger and sweeter. Some singer."
- Craig Zeichner, CDNow.com, "To call Kiehr's voice angelic would not be indulging in hyperbole. She floats through a vocal line, caressing each phrase with marvelous agility."