Longlist 3/2022
Support from the European funding program for young early music ensembles
Manhattan International Music Competition 2022
Special Prize: Golden Medal
International Goettingen Handel Competition 2021
Bärenreiter Urtext Prize
International
HIF Biber Competition 2019
Special prize of the WDR 3
concert of the future 2017
a prize of Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg for their concert program Mr Handel in the Pub
Rheinsberger Hofkapelle 2013
Ensemble in Residence
biography
Founded in Hamburg, the ensemble I Zefirelli stands for a fresh breeze in the world of Early Music.
Since 2017 I Zefirelli unites six musicians with a rich background in solo and chamber music performance, who work in the field of historically informed practice and thrill with their vital and vivid interpretations. The ensemble is named after Zephyr, God of the west wind, also known as the herald of spring.
The ensemble performs all over Europe, being part of well known festivals. This year for example, they played at Brucknerhaus Linz, at the Händel-Festspiele Göttingen and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.
In 2017 the young musicians were rewarded by the Career Center of the HfMT Hamburg for their innovative concept of Mr. Händel im Pub, which brings the transitions between baroque and folk music to live. The main focus is the city of London around the year 1700. This program was recorded and published on CD in 2022 and found entrance to the Longlist 3/2022 of the Deutsche Schallplattenkritik.
The members of I Zefirelli compose, arrange and improvise a lot and with greatest pleasure: in 2020 they created a concert of improvisation at Nikolaisaal in Potsdam (freestyle) and composed two own cantatas in 2021.
For 2022 I Zefirelli was chosen for EEEMERGING+, a program for aspiring young musicians, operating all over Europe, which is supported by Creative Europe and the European Union.
„The ensemble was rewarded with waves of applause and standing ovations at the close. How vital and vivid Early Music can be!“
- Bückeburg 2023
„Pompous Furiosity and a fine sense of sound.“
- Donaukurier 2022
„I Zefirelli is named after „Zephyros“, the Greek God of the winds. And indeed, the young Ensemble surrounding the outstanding recorder player Luise Catenhusen has beeng bringing a fresh breeze into Early Musik for years.“
- inforadio/rbb24.de, 2021
„With their vital interpretations, I Zefirelli was able to create a storm of enthusiasm within the audience“
- Jürgen Heidrich 2019
„Unblemished Expressivity and Charm within a mischievous musical battle“
- RP Online 2019