Focus Bohlenstube

Nothing has inspired artists of all times as much as love. Whether it was the Virgin Mary or the beauty from the neighborhood that was worshipped - it was always love that gave rise to the most magnificent works in music.

The musical expression of this devotion in the 16th century was the madrigal. Highly artistic and yet catchy, some madrigals became real hits - everyone knew them, everyone loved them. Almost 100 years after their creation, composers were still writing highly virtuosic and ambitious arrangements of them. Experience these touching love songs of the Renaissance and their virtuoso arrangements full of sensuality in the enchanting instrumentation of viola da gamba and harp!

Juliane Laake studied viola da gamba at the Hochschule für Künste Bremen as well as at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Several master classes with international authorities completed her education. As a recipient of a scholarship from the German Music Council and winner of the International Telemann Competition in Magdeburg, she regularly works with ensembles such as the Lautten Compagney, Weser-Renaissance, Ensemble Polyharmonique and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. In her personal concert programs and CD productions, Juliane Laake devotes herself with dedication to the viola da gamba literature in all its facets, especially the more rarely heard.

Harpist Maximilian Ehrhardt was born in Tettnang, Germany, and studied modern harp at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed his master's degree cum laude with Prof. Erika Waardenburg in 2009. In 2008 he began studying historical harp with Prof. Mara Galassi at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica di Milano, again graduating cum laude with a master's degree in 2015. Among others, he has made guest appearances at the Early Music Festivals in Berlin and Utrecht, and has performed live on the radio on Bavarian, Danish and Polish Radio, among others.

The album "Viola Appassionata" by the two musicians was nominated for both the International Classical Music Award (ICMA) 2018 and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.