Michael Steiner,
Botschafter der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Rom

Prof. Dr. Peter Graf Kielmansegg,
ehemaliger Präsident Akademie der Wissenschaften, Heidelberg

Contessa Caroline Emo, Fanzolo
Conte Vittor Luigi e Vilma Braga Rosa, Vicenza

The non-profit association “Junges Musikpodium / Incontri Musicali Dresda-Venezia” founded in 1999, invites highly talented students from Dresden, neighbouring European regions and from Italy and offers them the opportunity to take part in workshops in the Veneto in order to become familiar with the ideals and the excellence of sound, colour, characteristics of interpretation, ability of invention and “virtuosismo”, tipical of the Scuola di Venezia at the 17th and 18th Century.

The Musikpodium revives the great tradition of musical exchange between Dresden and Venice which marked the musical and cultural life of the two capitals for more than two centuries (17th and 18th century). Venice was the driving force of any musical development in Europe in that period. Such a vital exchange of artistic and esthetic ideas across political and religious differences did not occur anywhere else. Thanks to the young Prince Elector’s – August III – special liking for Italian culture Dresden was the most important place for Italian music and opera outside Italy at the 18th century. Famous Italian virtuosi, maestri di capella and singers were invited at the Court of Dresden, and musicians d’élite of the ancient Dresden Hofkapelle, among them the outstanding violinist Johann Georg Pisendel, were sent to Venice with the mission to study the latest innovations of the “nuovo stile” and to refine their art.

The Musikpodium stimulates the muscians to immerse into this rich history with passion and empathy, to come together with young colleagues from Italy, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Hungary and to retrace with much inventiveness the interpretation of pieces chosen from the rich repertory of Italian, especially Venetian Baroque music under the aegis of internationally renowned Italian musicians.

Public rehearsals in Italy as well as a final gala concert at the end of the workshop at a Palladio Villa allow the young musicians to perform in an international context which is imperative for their future professional life.

One of the most beautiful Renaissance Palaces in Italy, Villa Emo by Palladio at Fanzolo close to Asolo and recently also Palazzo Valmarana Braga at Vicenza, also built by Palladio, are the locations for their studies and the concerts. Both monuments give testimony of the rich cultural and architectural heritage of the Renaissance. Both Villa Emo and Palazzo Valmarana Braga are opened by their owners especially for the Musikpodium.

Two months later a concert under the auspices of the Dresden Conservatory follows in Dresden and this gives evidence of the high interest and cultural importance attached to this ambitious European project for young musicians in Dresden too.

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