Concerts of excellence

Arie di baule – Trunk arias: Famous singers on the road Julia Lezhneva III | Julia Lezhneva III

Julia Lezhneva

Kammerorchester Basel

Dmitry Smirnov

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Date

Saturday, 03.10

Hours 19:30

Location

Chiesa del Collegio Papio, Ascona

Via delle Cappelle 1, 6612 Ascona

Price categories

CHF 85 / 70 / 55 / 40

Recital for Chamber Orchestra and Piano

Concert information

When Julia Lezhneva sings her coloraturas, one listens with almost hypnotic attention to a physical phenomenon, the work of the vocal cords. With a lightness that seems effortless, she masters parts of the highest virtuosity. For Lezhneva, coloraturas allow emotions to arise for which words alone are not enough.

These arias were written for primedonnas and castrati, the superstars of the Baroque, comparable to today’s pop icons. Their high cachets not infrequently drove impresarios, such as Händel in London, into bankruptcy. Singers often traveled with so-called trunk arias, pieces tailored to their voices. Part of the deal for the engagement was that the composer include the trunk aria in the new opera.

For this concert, Julia Lezhneva, together with the Kammerorchester Basel, sought out particularly enticing arias from the trunk.

Alongside well-known pages by Händel, he also rediscovered lesser-known works by Ariosti, Galuppi, Giacomelli, Hasse, Porpora, and Porta, who were much loved in the 18th century.

Program

6:45 pm, Papio Library: Concert Introduction, Davide Fersini (musician & music editor RSI) – in Italian (German on request)

Julia Lezhneva, soprano
Artist in Residence 2026
Kammerorchester Basel
Dmitry Smirnov, violin and conducting

Concept, musicological research, score edition: Giovanni Andrea Sechi

Georg Friederich Händel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in B-flat major op. 3 No. 2 HWV 313

Attilio Ariosti (1666-1729)
“Mi sento intorno al cor,” Berenice’s aria from the opera “Lucio Vero” (London 1727)

Nicola Porpora (1686-1768)
“Timida pastorella,” Adelaide’s aria from the opera “Adelaide” (Rome 1723)

Georg Friederich Händel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in D minor op. 3 no. 5 HWV 316

Baldassare Galuppi (1706-1785)
“Son qual nave esposta ai venti,” Solinda’s aria from the opera “L’inganno tradito dall’amore” (Vienna 1735)

Johann Adolph Hasse (1699-1783)
“Se fra turbini,” Attalus’ aria from the opera “Attalus, King of Bithynia” (Naples 1728)

Break

Georg Friederich Händel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in F major op. 3 no. 4 HWV 315

Johann Adolph Hasse (1699-1783)
“Se grato esser mi vuoi,” Fulvia’s aria from the opera “Ezio” (Naples 1730)

Geminiano Giacomelli (1692-1740)
“Vaghe luci voi sapeste,” Scipione’s aria from the opera “Scipione in Cartagine Nuova” (Piacenza 1730)

Georg Friederich Händel (1685-1759)
Concerto grosso in B minor op. 6 no. 12 HWV 330

Giovanni Porta (ca. 1675-1755)
“Mi parla nel seno,” aria di Merione from the opera “Farnace” (Bologna 1731) (original version with solo oboe)

Geminiano Giacomelli (1692-1740)
“Bel cader qualor pugnando,” aria by Quintus Fabius from the opera “Lucius Papirius Dictator” (Parma 1729)

Duration: 110′ (break included)

The Artists

Julia Lezhneva

Soprano

Julia Lezhneva’s voice is widely acclaimed: described as “angelic” (New York Times), with a “pure tone” (Opernwelt) and “flawless technique” (The Guardian). Born in 1989, she studied at the Moscow Conservatory, won the Elena Obraztsova Competition at 18, and opened the Rossini Opera Festival at 20. She works regularly with Giovanni Antonini, I Barocchisti and Il Giardino Armonico.

Kammerorchester Basel

The Kammerorchester Basel was founded in 1984 and was awarded the Swiss Music Prize in 2019. As part of the Haydn2032 project under the baton of Giovanni Antonini, it is recording all of Haydn’s symphonies by 2032. Thanks to its international projects and wide-ranging repertoire, it ranks among the most distinguished chamber orchestras in Europe. The orchestra is characterized by a joy of playing, a spirit of discovery, and stylistic openness.

Dmitry Smirnov

Violin and Conductor

Dmitry Smirnov is a violinist and chamber musician celebrated for his vibrant interpretations in historical performance. As concertmaster in the innovative Haydn 2032 project and an award-winning collaborator with Sol Gabetta and Ilya Gringolts, he energizes every ensemble with his passion and artistry. Trained in St Petersburg, Lausanne, and Basel, Dmitry’s talent has earned accolades at the ARD, Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, and Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition.

Venue information: Chiesa del Collegio Papio, Ascona

The Chiesa Santa Maria della Misericordia at the Roman Catholic secondary school “Collegio Papio” is a Renaissance-era building, renowned for its impressive altarpieces and wall paintings by Giovanni Serodine (17th century) and Marco D’Oggioni (16th century). Because of its size and excellent acoustics, the church is regularly used for concerts, including major concerts organized by classicAscona. The College’s other premises host master classes and other side events.

The College’s other premises are used for master classes and other side events.