WELCOME in English!
Baroque ensemble
La Tempesta Basel
Muriel Rochat Rienth, direction & recorder
Felix Rienth, tenor
Muriel Rochat Rienth, recorder & direction
Norberto Broggini, harpsichord
"The Tempesta Basel fascinated the audience"
Newspaper "Die Oberbadische" (Germany), december 2016
"...a splendid performance..."
"...a brillant opening of the festival"
LA TRIBUNA DE ALBACETE (Spain), january 2022
New CD by La Tempesta Basel available march 2020:
„The beautiful voice of the swiss- spanish tenor Felix Rienth is perfect for the interpretation of these cantatas, paired with elegance and flexibility…"
Magazine "SCHERZO", Madrid (Spain), april 2020
"The recorder sonatas (both by Francesco Mancini) are the finest of the performances. Delightful sparkle in fast movements, effortless languid decoration in slow ones, spot-on pitch, and nuanced virtuosity animate the recorder playing of Muriel Rochat Rienth; and the accompanying ensemble is well matched and responsive.."
"The harpsichord toccata by Nicola Fago (1677-1745) is much in the style of Domenico Scarlatti with repeated bass notes and rapid upper passagework, well played by Norberto Broggini."
"Among the cantatas, the best is 'Pur Nel Sonno’ by Giovanni Fischietti (1692-1743) where there is nice expression and flexibility in the extended recitative section along with effective interplay between the recorder and tenor in the final Allegro. In other cantatas there are some fine passages from Felix Rienth such as the depiction of wind and sunlight kissing the beloved in Scarlatti’s "Ardo E Ver"..."
Magazine "AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE" (USA), april 2020
After two succesful CDs on Enchiriadis, La Tempesta Basel is soon presenting a neapolitan baroque programme on VANITAS. The latest release include Tenor Cantatas by Scarlatti, Sarro, Hasse, featuring tenor Felix Rienth and Recorder Sonatas by Mancini with Muriel Rochat Rienth, as well as a Cantata by Giovanni Fischietti as "world premiere recording". VANITAS, a spanish classical CD label, is worldwide distributed by Challenge Records (Holland) and NAXOS of AMERICA.
Listen to the music- click here
Article in DIARIO DE SEVILLA (Seville newspaper):
Read on PDF:
La Tempesta Basel opened spanish baroque Festival FEMUBA 2022 in Albacete
La Tempesta Basel at FEMUBA 2022 in Spain: Felix Rienth (tenor), Muriel Rochat Rienth (recorder), Mathieu Rouquié (cello) and Norberto Broggini (harpsichord) at Teatro Circo Albacete (Spain)
Renowned Albacete baroque music festival FEMUBA invited La Tempesta Basel for its 7th edition. Tenor Felix Rienth and recorder player Muriel Rochat Rienth performed in Spain the neapolitan baroque repertory from the latest CD release "ECCO IL MOMENTO", published by VANITAS /Naxos of America. The spanish audience was enthusiastic about the festival opening with the swiss ensemble. La Tempesta Basel was performing the second time in Spain, after concerts held in Ronda near Málaga in 2008.
Muriel Rochat Rienth and La Tempesta Basel
Article in LA TRIBUNA DE ALBACETE about Felix Rienth and Muriel Rochat Rienth at FEMUBA-Festival:
Felix Rienth and La Tempesta Basel
Concert review in LA TRIBUNA DE ALBACETE:
"...the audience enjoyed the beauty of the music and the splendid performance"
"A brillant opening of the festival"
LA TRIBUNA DE ALBACETE (Spain), 22 january 2022
Click here !
Other CDs by La Tempesta Basel on Enchiriadis / NAXOS:
- Georg Philipp Telemann: Tenor Cantatas & Recorder Sonatas (EN2038)
- Johann Christoph Pepusch: Tenor Cantatas & Recorder Sonatas (EN 2024)
FELIX RIENTH, Tenor
La Tempesta Basel
Muriel Rochat Rienth, recorder & direction
CDs worldwide distributed by NAXOS
NEWS: La Tempesta Basel's Telemann-CD elected among the
"10 best CDs of the month"
from spanish music magazine "RITMO" (April 2014)
Click here to read the article of magazine "RITMO" (in spanish)
Listen to the music- click here
"...and the Tempesta Basel has emerged with a fine disc."
"...it is certainly worthy of obtaining if you want an excellent performance...."
FANFARE Magazine (USA), July 2014
"...a singer of real vocal beauty..."
"I don’t think I have encountered Rienth before, but I am impressed by the fullness and firm projection of his clear tenor voice, joined with excellent sensitivity to text values. "
"American Record Guide" (USA), August 2014
"That said, this is a disc which Telemann aficionados will certainly like to have. It is an attractive programme..."
MusicWeb International (England), August 2014
Read here an interview with Felix Rienth and Muriel Rochat Rienth from spanish newspaper "Diario de Sevilla" (in spanish language)
*****
"...the interpretation by chamber ensemble La Tempesta Basel, which presents its debut CD, is simply excellent and full of musicality..."
"...shows, that this is an ensemble from which we can expect a lot in the future..."
CD-Magazine DIVERDI (Madrid)
"...this is altogether a most enjoyable recording..."
"Early Music Review" (England)
"...and has raised the bar very high, thanks to the interpretational qualities..."
Music Magazine "Scherzo" (Madrid)
Muriel Rochat Rienth, musical director of La Tempesta Basel & recorder player
******
La Tempesta Basel
Founded by Swiss recorder player Muriel Rochat Rienth, this ensemble was awarded the prestigeous Swiss ORPHEUS prize, which included a concert in Zurich Tonhalle and a radio production. La Tempesta Basel gave several concerts throughout Switzerland (Zurich, Basle, Fribourg, Lucerne, Biel, Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey), Austria, Spain, Italy, France , Germany, Belgium, beeing recorded by Swiss German Radio and Suisse Romande Radio Company. The ensemble's musicians are all specialists of Ancient Music, playing with "La Chapelle Royale" ( Philippe Herreweghe), "Les arts florissants" (William Christie) or "Ensemble Elyma" (Gabiel Garrido). The performance of J.C.Pepusch´s Cantatas and Sonatas was the ensemble´s debut recording. This CD appeared in 2009 on Spanish label ENCHIRIADIS, highly acclaimed by the international music press. Dutch Radio "Concertzender" (Hilversum) presented the CD, also Radio Berlin-Brandenburg, Radio Bremen, NDR Hamburg (Germany), Radio Klara (Brussels), Radio CKRL Québec-City (Canada), ABC Classic (Australia) and further Swiss Radios. Recent concerts include the creation of a cantata by Austrian composer Viktor Fortin, dedicated to La Tempesta Basel and Muriel Rochat Rienth. This concert in Lausanne was recorded by Suisse Romande Radio.
Second CD production by La Tempesta Basel, Telemann's Tenor Cantatas from the cycle "Harmonischer Gottesdienst" and recorder sonatas, has been published in 2014 by spanish label Enchiriadis, distr. NAXOS, getting enthusiastic reviews in magazines, such as FANFARE and "American Record Guide" (USA). Spanish magazine RITMO elected it among the "10 best CDs of the month" and to a reference recording. Several Radios, such as Swiss German Radio, Radio Nacional de España, Radio Suisse Romande, SWR Stuttgart, WDR Cologne, Radio Bremen, NDR Hamburg and canadian "Radio CKRL" of Québec-City broadcasted La Tempesta's CD.
In spring 2019 will be published the latest CD of La Tempesta Basel, featuring an italian baroque programme from Naples with Tenor Cantatas by Scarlatti, Sarro, Hasse and Recorder Sonatas by Mancini, specially to mention a Cantata by Giovanni Fischietti , presented as a "world premiere recording". This new CD is edited by spanish label VANITAS, distributed by Challenge Records (Holland) and NAXOS of America.
THE MUSICIANS:
"An excellent interpretation by tenor Felix Rienth, whose beautiful timbre reminds one of the legendary Anthony Rolfe Johnson..."
Magazine "CD compact", Barcelona, CD Pepusch
FELIX RIENTH, TENOR
The Basle tenor with Spanish mother started his career as "First boy" in a production of Mozart's "Magic Flute" at the Basle Opera House, conducted by Armin Jordan. As a tenor, he has performed at major festivals, for example in Ambronay, Paris, Ghent, Lisbon, Porto, Granada, World Expo Zaragoza and has worked with Eduardo Lopez Banzo and Gabriel Garrido. Felix was invited to the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Graz Philharmonic Hall, the Geneva Victoria Hall, Zurich Tonhalle, Basle Musiksaal. He has also recorded about more than 20 CDs on the labels K617, Ricercar, Symphonia, Enchiriadis, Pan Classics, OehmsClassics. His CD of cantatas by the Spanish composer Francesc Valls was awarded the "Prelude Classical Music Award 2007" as best Baroque release of the year. (other awards including "diapason d'or", "CD of the year" in Spain . With La Tempesta Basel he recorded J.C. Pepusch's cantatas for Enchiriadis. His recording of spanish baroque songs "Tonos humanos" by José Marín was elected as a "reference recording" by german magazine "Klassik Heute". Recent concerts included Schubert's "Mass No. 6" with the Suisse Romande Orchestra, Mahler's "Song of the Earth" with the Palma de Mallorca Philharmonic, Haydn's "Creation" with the Constance Philharmonic, "Messiah" in Munich, "Saint John Passion" in Geneva and Zurich as well as "Eliah" in Lisbon and "Paulus" in Paris. In 2008 he gave a baroque recital at Motril International Music Festival (Spain), in presence of Her Majesty, Queen Fabiola of Belgium. Recently, Felix Rienth was invited to Bach's "St John Passion" in Holland and Austria with the "Orchestra of the 18th Century", conducted by Frans Brüggen. Latest recording appearing in 2019 include an italian baroque programme with LA TEMPESTA BASEL, as well as Guiliani's Songs for tenor and guitar, both for VANITAS.
*****
"...Muriel Rochat Rienth sounds her impressive best in music..."
"FANFARE" (USA)
"...as well as Pepusch's recorder sonatas, which are presented with intensity by the young leader of the ensemble, Muriel Rochat Rienth..."
"Diario de Sevilla" (Seville Newspaper)
MURIEL ROCHAT RIENTH, RECORDER & DIRECTION
Born in Basle, she finished her studies (solo diploma) at the renowned Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Michel Piguet. She is founder and director of La Tempesta Basel. Muriel Rochat Rienth regularly performs as a soloist recorder concertos by Vivaldi, Sammartini, Telemann with different Swiss orchestras, including radio recordings by Swiss German Radio, Radio Suisse Romande and several radios in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Holland and Canada. She performed in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Belgium and Spain at different festivals. Muriel's CD-releases include the complete recording of Händel's "Recorder Sonatas" for spanish label VANITAS, elected as a reference recording and among "the 10 best CDs of the month" in Spain and with high acclamation in swiss, spanish, german, dutch an US magazines (FANFARE) , and Telemann's "12 fantasias" also enthusistically reviewed by international music press. Next CD release will be the complete recorder sonatas of Veracini, on VANITAS. Muriel Rochat Rienth teaches at the Conservatoire de Fribourg (Switzerland).
*****
NORBERTO BROGGINI, harpsichord /organ
Born in Buenos Aires, he is the regular continuo player of "Ensemble Elyma" which tours worldwide and is conducted by Gabriel Garrido. Concerts including Edinburgh Festival, Cuba, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, USA.
He studied at Geneva Centre de musique Ancienne and played with Ton Koopman and Michel Piguet, recording several CDs on K617, NB, Verso, Enchiriadis.
&
NATHALIE LEUENBERGER, HARPSICHORD
Nathalie started learning clavichord in her childhood and studied finally at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with J.A. Bötticher, further studies with Andrea Marcon in Basel and to Amsterdam (organ) and Strasbourg with Christophe Mantoux, finishing with organ diploma. Today she is a regular organist at different swiss churches and is working as clavichord player at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Nathalie performed several concerts with La Tempesta Basel, such as in Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Austria.
NEWS:
La Tempesta Basel presenting new CD, spring 2020- latest review from SCHERZO, Madrid (Spain):
The La Tempesta Basel is featuring on spanish CD-label VANITAS with an italian baroque programme, presenting Cantatas by Scarlatti, Sarro, Hasse, with tenor Felix Rienth and recorder player Muriel Rochat Rienth, CD was recorded in Spain and will be published in 2020, worldwide distributed by Challenge Records , Holland and NAXOS of America.
„It’s really a pity there are not so many CDs of LA TEMPESTA BASEL on the market. Above all, because this ensemble has a enviable musical level…“
(…)
„The beautiful voice of the swiss- spanish tenor Felix Rienth is perfect for the interpretation of these cantatas, paired with elegance and flexibility…
(….)
„…and the excellent recorder player Muriel Rochat Rienth, playing two sonatas by Mancini, once again – i still can remember her brillant CDs of Handel and Telemann- she is spoiling us with her virtuosity, delicacy and musicality…“
(….)
„And i come back to the beginning, with an important question: why they don’t record more CDs? „
SCHERZO Magazine, Madrid (Spain), april 2020
La Tempesta Basel's CD Telemann (2014) extemely successful in UK- and US-medias:
The new CD from La Tempesta Basel, Telemann's " Tenor Cantatas & Recorder Sonatas" , published by spanish label ENCHIRIADIS, found an outstanding success. Spanish magazine "RITMO" elected the disc among the "10 best CDs of the month of april 2014" , evaluated with 4 stars **** = "excellent".
American magazine "FANFARE" published a great review of La Tempesta's new CD in the july 2014 issue, describing it as a " fine disc" and an "excellent performance"
Spanish National Radio "Radio Nacional de España" presented La Tempesta Basel's new CD, showing 2 complete Telemann-Cantatas. Tenor Felix Rienth was invited to the morning radio- show of Canadian "Radio CKRL" from Québec-City, where he was interviewed and could present the Telemann-CD and the Pepusch-CD by La Tempesta Basel. The Telemann-CD was presented by German Radios "Radio Bremen" Radio SWR Stuttgart and swiss "Radio Suisse Romande" and SRF 2.
The Telemann- CD from La Tempesta Basel is worldwide distributed by NAXOS; the CD appeared already in USA, Canada, Japan, UK, Germany, Spain and France.
Tenor Felix Rienth was invited october 2014 at Spanish National Radio as an interview-guest. In this radio-show he talked about La Tempesta Basel's discography and history.
Listen to the radio-show with Felix Rienth (in spanish language) of "Radio Nacional de España", click here!
Link to NAXOS OF AMERICA, click here!
La Tempesta Basel in Graz (Austria): succesful concerts in october 2012 at Styrian capital with the programme "Händel and his London contemporaries"
PRESS REVIEWS: CD Pepusch with LA TEMPESTA BASEL
"The La Tempesta ensemble from Basel is led by recorder player Muriel Rienth, who performs with clarity and a good sense of phrasing. She blends with the voice, her husband Felix Rienth, so that the two form an inseparable duo. The continuo group remains discretely in the background, giving a solid foundation but never overshadowing the upper lines. "
"Felix Rienth has a light and flexible tenor, always on pitch and giving the music much in the way of fine nuance, making Pepusch come alive. I am also impressed by Norberto Broggini’s playing of the organ voluntaries. He has a fine knack for choosing good registrations that are never overbearing, but always bring out the frenetic lines with seeming ease. This is one fine disc, and not only does Pepusch need to be resurrected beyond the The Beggar’s Opera, this performance does his competent and interesting music full justice."
FANFARE Magazine (USA), july/august 2014
"..the pastoral texts are in English, performed suitably dramatically and with good English pronunciation by tenor Felix Rienth..."
"Muriel Rochat Rienth, the director of the group, sets the scene with her stylish obbligato recorder playing. She is also the soloist in three attractive sonatas for recorder and continuo."
"This is altogether a most enjoyable recording".
Early Music Review (UK)
"... as well as Pepusch´s recorder sonatas, which are presented with intensity by the young leader of the ensemble, Muriel Rochat Rienth, accompanied well by a continuo, consisting of bassoon, cembalo or viola de gamba.."
"...on the present CD, which is the recording premiere of the baroque ensemble La Tempesta Basel, Swiss-Spanish tenor Felix Rienth sings four of Pepusch's English cantatas with admirable confidence and taste.."
Diario de Sevilla (Seville Newspaper)
"...and has raised the bar very high, thanks to the interpretational qualities in the vocal parts with the beautiful and stylistically confident voice of tenor Felix Rienth, as well as in the instrumental parts, where Muriel Rochat Rienth´s recorder clearly stands out and also features very prominently in the cantatas..."
Music Magazine "Scherzo" (Madrid)
"An excellent interpretation by tenor Felix Rienth, whose wonderful timbre, paired with great technical ability, reminds one of the legendary Anthony Rolfe Johnson."
"The same can be said of the ensemble´s leader and recorder player Muriel Rochat Rienth, who is accompanied by bassoonist Philippe Miqueu, the Romina Lischka on the viola de gamba, Norberto Broggini on the cembalo."
Magazine "CD Compact" (Barcelona)
"The colourful, transparent and imaginative music is in the best of hands (and throat). Muriel Rochat Rienth teases out of her instrument, which has its natural limitations, soft and blossoming lines, and tenor Felix Rienth’s communicates well with her at the same level, whilst Norberto Broggini as soloist makes one realise that Pepusch’s organ music is worth being rediscovered not only by experts, and the general bass group does its job with the necessary amount of discretion and delicacy."
Codex Flores, Online Music Magazine (CH)
Click here to listen to the music !
Muriel Rochat Rienth, recorder player & musical director of La Tempesta Basel, april 2023
GOOD BYE !
