Controcorrente is an orchestra that plays exclusively on period instruments. Historical research, which is of fundamental importance to the Controcorrente project, has become a vehicle for new energy rather than a champion of rigid interpretation.
The obvious provocation in the orchestra’s name underlines a strong desire by the artists to regain ownership and management of their time. They are aware of their duty to create a high quality performance and they refuse to submit to a hasty and superficial approach, preferring to proceed creatively – controcorrente – against the flow, towards the final product.
The path which Orchestra Controcorrente has undertaken, performing without a conductor, is inspired by a musical vision which is rooted in history, not as a critique to the figure of the conductor in itself. It is the orchestra memebers’ vivid wish to make each musician fully responsible in their role within the ensemble, to stimulate the individuality of each one of us and to make interpretative research a creative moment to be shared.
Controcorrente opens new horizons to its musicians through the challenge of aiming at the ideal of the “complete musician”, which the ancient world was so fond of.
Whilst taking care to acknowledge the precious legacy of the past, Controcorrente looks to the future with an original and innovative approach which revives tradition in a vibrant and creative way.
