Hille Perl

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Hille Perl (born Hildegard Perl born 1965 in Bremen [1] ) is a German virtuoso performer of the viola da gamba and lirone.

Contents

Biography

Her father Helmut Perl was an organist, musicologist and author who specialized in Mozart. [2] [3] She decided to play the viola da gamba after attending a Wieland Kuijken concert when she was five years old. [4] She studied with Niklas Trüstedt (Berlin) [5] and Pere Ros and Ingrid Stampa (Hamburg). [6] Her daughter Marthe Perl (born 1983) [7] and niece Sarah Perl also play viol. [8]

She is considered to be one of the world's finest viola da gamba players, [9] [10] specializing in solo and ensemble music of the 17th and 18th centuries. She has a particular interest in French Baroque repertoire for seven-string bass viola da gamba. She also performs Spanish, Italian, German, and modern repertoire for the instrument and has released many CDs.

Her long-time performing partner is Lee Santana, who plays the lute, theorbo, chitarrone, and baroque guitar. In addition to an original 18th-century gamba made by Matthais Alban in Tyrol, 1687, she plays a seven-string Tielke replica made by Ingo Muthesius and a six-string Italian gamba made by Claus Derenbach.

Her main instrument, the Alban gamba, was discovered in 1952 in an Austrian convent, and was restored by Ingo Muthesius. Muthesius replaced the neck, while retaining the original lion's head scroll and peg box. Claus Derenbach has made a new bridge and fingerboard. The body remains original. Unusually, no sister instrument has been found to date, though the top-wood corresponds with violins surviving from Alban's workshop in Bozen, where he worked with his two sons until 1712. The instrument was bequeathed to Perl in the previous owner's will. [11]

Perl lives with her family on a small farm in Lower Saxony and has been teaching since 2002 as a professor at the University of the Arts Bremen. [1] She has co-founded several ensembles, including the Sirius Viols and Los Otros. [12] She appeared in Michael Haneke's 2017 movie Happy End, playing gamba.

Discography

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Supporting

Perl was a member of The Harp Consort, directed by Andrew Lawrence-King, for a number of years; discography and other information are available there.

Perl has also played substantial parts on a number of other records for which she was not a principal, including the following.

1990s (supporting)

2000s (supporting)

  • Jacob Klein, Six Sonaten für Violoncello op.4. Sonatas 5(a), 2(A), 4(E), 1(B), 3(G), 6(e). Kristin von der Goltz, cello; with Lee Santana, lute. Raumklang RK 06667 (2004)
  • Dépaysements, Willy Merz. Music by Merz on the "artifice of temporalities", for voice and piano (Linda Campanella and Cristina Barbuti), and solo gamba (Perl), contrabassoon (Merz), percussion (Thierry Miroglio), bassoon (Diego Chenna), and viola (Danilo Rossi). Stradivarius STR 33699 (2005)
  • Heinrich Ignaz Biber (1644-1704). Violin sonatas from the Kremsier archive: in c, D, E, g, B, and Ciacona in D; also Georg Muffat (1635-1704)'s Sonata in D. Anton Steck, violin; with Christian Rieger, harpsichord and organ, Lee Santana, archlute and chitarrone. cpo 777 124-2 (2005)
  • Antoine Dard. 6 sonates pour le violoncelle avec la basse continue (1759). Kristin von der Goltz, cello, with Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord. Raumklang RK 2701 (2007)
  • India: Arias, Madrigals and Laments. Music by Sigismondo d'India. Gudrun Anders (soprano), Sigrun Richter (arciliuto and chitarrone); Perl plays lirone as well as gamba. Christophorus CHE1342 (11 August 2008)
  • Venezia 1625: Sonate, Symphonie, Ciaccone, Canzone, & Toccate. Music by G.B. Fontana, M. Uccelini, B. Storace, T. Merula, S. Rossi, D. Castello, A. Piccinini. Maurice Steger, recorder and direction, with Lee Santana (chitarrone), and others. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902024 (2009)
  • Michaelisvesper. Music by Michael Praetorius. Knabenchor Hannover, Jörg Breiding, director. With Hille Perl & the Sirius Viols. Rondeau (2009-01-04)

2010s (supporting)

  • Telemann: Spirituosa. Music by Telemann: Quintet in D (TWV 44:1), sonata in A (TWV 42:A10), sonata in a (TWV42:a5), trio sonatas in G (TWV 42:G7), b (TWV 42:h5), and D (TWV 42:D11), sonate in A (TWV44:35), sonata in A (TWV 40:200), sonata in e (TWV 42:e12). Concerto Melante, with Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet) on the first piece and Perl (gamba) on the second. DHM 88697626632 (2010-08-23)
  • De Profundis. Music by Orazio Benevoli, Michel Godard, Lee Santana, and others. Paul Willenbrock (bass), Michel Godard (serpent), Alain Buet (bass), Philippe Roche (bass), Perl (viol), Lee Santana (chitarrone). Carpe Diem CD16274 (2010-08-24)
  • Italian Madrigals. Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann, director. With Dorothee Mields, Perl (reportedly playing lute), Sirius Viols, and others. Carus 83.237 (2011-05-16)
  • Knabenchor Hannover (Hanover Boys' Choir). Jörg Breiding, director of music. Music by Monteverdi, Praetorius, Schütz, Hammerschmidt, Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Bach, Mendelssohn, Koerppen, Strohbach, Weiss, Rutter. With the Sirius Viols, Bremer Lautten Chor, Himlische Cantorey, Concerto Palatino, Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble, Musica Alta Ripa, Barockensemble L'Arco, Kammersymphonie Hannover, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Nürnberger Symphoniker. Rondeau Production ROP 7014 (2012)
  • Brandenburgische Konzerte (Brandenburg Concertos). Music by J.S. Bach. Hofkapelle München with Rüdiger Lotter (violin, direction), Dorothee Oberlinger (flute) and Hille and Marthe Perl (gambas). DHM 88765477882 (2013-11-01)
  • Auferstehungshistorie SWV 50 (Carus Schütz-Edition Vol. 9). Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Christoph Rademann, director. With Georg Poplutz, Hille Perl, Lee Santana, and others. Carus 83.256 (2014-07-03)
  • Lukaspassion & Die Sieben Worte. Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Christoph Rademann, director. With Ulrike Hofbauer, Hille Perl, Lee Santana, and others. Carus 83.253 (2013)
  • Johannes-Passion BWV 245. Music by J.S. Bach. Stuttgart Hymnus Choir Boys and Handel's Company, Rainer Johannes Homburg, director. With Veronika Winter, Franz Vitzthum, Andreas Post, Hille Perl, and others. MDG (2017-01-15)
  • Die Gesamteinspielung Box 1 (Carus Schütz-Edition). Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Christoph Rademann, director. With Dorothee Mields, Sarah Perl, Hille Perl, Lee Santana, and others. Carus 83.041, 11 CDs (2016-10-07)
  • Die Gesamteinspielung Box 2 (Carus Schütz-Edition). Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Christoph Rademann, director. With Dorothee Mields, Sarah Perl, Hille Perl, Lee Santana, and others. Carus 83.042, 8 CDs (2017-08-20)
  • Secret History. Music by Josquin Desprez and Tomás Luis de Victoria. John Potter (vocals), Anna Maria Friman (vocals), Ariel Abramovich (vihuela), Jacob Heringman (vihuela), Lee Santana (vihuela), Perl (viola da gamba). ECM 4811463 (2017-08-25)
  • St Matthew Passion. Music by J.S. Bach. Bachchor Mainz, Bachorchester Mainz, Ralf Otto, director. With Christian Rathgeber (tenor), Perl (viola da gamba), Sabine Bauer (harpsichord), and others. Naxos 8574036-38 (2019-03-08)

2020s (supporting)

  • The Complete Vocal Works. Music by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam, Harry van der Kamp, conductor. Lee Santana (lute), Bernard Winsemius (organ), Perl (viola da gamba), and others. Originally released 2009-2012; released by note 1 music (17 CDs), 8 424562 224117 (2021)
  • Cantiones Sacrae. Music by Heinrich Schütz. Dresdner Kammerchor, Hans-Christoph Rademann, director. With Frauke Hess (violin), Perl (viola da gama), Lee Santana (theorbo), and others. Carus 5093252 (2021-08-20)
  • Delicacy, Nadine Henrichs. Original works and arrangements for viola from the 18th century. Music by Telemann, Braun, J.S. Bach, and others. Henrichs, viola and arranger, with Péter Barczi (violin), Perl (viola da gamba), Michael Behringer (harpsichord), Annekatrin Beller (violoncello). Carpe Diem CD-16328 (2022)
  • A Day with Suzanne (A Tribute to Leonard Cohen), Joel Frederiksen and Ensemble Phoenix Munich. Covers of several Leonard Cohen songs, sung by Frederiksen, who also plays lute, interspersed with both vocal and instrumental pieces from other centuries, including "Susanne un jour" by Orlando di Lasso and "Adieu mes amours" by Josquin des Prez. Emma-Lisa Roux, voice and lute; Perl, viola da gamba; Domen Marincic, gamba and virginal. DHM 19658725022 (2021)
  • Sonaten für Cello & Bc op.5 Nr.1-6. Music by Francesco Geminiani. Kristin von der Goltz, baroque cello. Perl, viola da gamba; Andreas Küppers, harpsichord; Christoph Dangel, baroque cello; Thomas Boysen, lute and theorbo. cpo 555402-2 (2023)

ORLANDOviols

Starting in 2020, the ORLANDOviols viola da gamba ensemble, of which Perl is a member, began giving online concerts. The players are physically separated, but using the ovbox [14] device and software, can still play and perform together.

Several individual pieces are also available, including three composed by Lee Santana, and one by John Cage.

The ORLANDOviols ensemble: Hille Perl, Frauke Hess, Júlia Vető, Martha Perl, Claas Harders, and Giso Grimm.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Prof. Hille Perl - Zur Person". Hochschule für Künste Bremen (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. "Sie verblüfft ihre Fans, erfindet sich immer wieder neu". www.kreiszeitung.de (in German). 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  3. "Helmut Perl". www.schott-music.com (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  4. Näher, Sabine (2017-02-02). "Interview Hille Perl - "Das Landleben ist ein herrliches Korrektiv"". concerti.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  5. Aryeh Oron: Hille Perl (Viola da gamba), Bach Cantatas website
  6. Paul Collins God's new man: the election of Benedict XVI and the legacy of John Paul II "(an instrument from the late medieval and Renaissance periods, and the forerunner of the modern cello) and a former professor at Hamburg's Musityiochschule and teacher of one of today's best known viola da gamba players, Hille Perl."
  7. weser-kurier.de. ""Manche denken bei Viola da gamba an Shrimps"". weser-kurier-de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  8. "Hille, Marte und Sarah Perl - Kulturfestspiele Schlösser und Gärten der Mark". KulturSchlagLicht (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  9. "Hille Perl Tanzmusik". www.schlossfestspiele.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  10. "Hille Perl und die Königin der Streichinstrumente". MUSIK HEUTE (in German). 2014-08-30. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. Paraphrased from the liner notes to the 2019 recording of the J.S. Bach flute sonatas, written by Perl.
  12. Projects, Hille Perl website, http://www.hillenet.net/projects/
  13. orlandoviols.de
  14. ORLANDOviols consort box