Le Maschere Galanti is a Berlin-based music collective of baroque specialists dedicated to reviving the baroque serenata.
The serenata was an unstaged drama, similar to the oratorio in form but based on a secular subject, typically allegorical, mythical or pastoral in nature. Serenatas were often composed to mark an event such as the birthday or wedding of a patron and were performed, usually at night, in a variety of private settings such as gardens or summer retreats. Our goal is to bring baroque music to new audiences by exploring this immediate and engaging genre.
A collaborative approach to music making lies at the heart of Le Maschere Galanti. Shared responsibility was fundamental to music making in the baroque era, with small groups of musicians working intensively over short rehearsal periods. For Le Maschere Galanti historically-informed practice means not only the instruments and techniques we use, but also the very process of music-making. We believe this approach also involves the audience in a more intimate and exciting musical experience.
About Us
Michael Taylor (Countertenor)
Acclaimed in the press for his “radiant power and emotion” (The Telegraph) and “sheer seductive beauty” (Gramophone Magazine), Canadian countertenor Michael Taylor has performed on opera stages around the world with renowned companies such as the Hamburg State Opera, Opera Atelier Toronto, Lucerne Opera, Mainz State Opera, Halle Opera and the Venice Biennale. Highlights of his wide-ranging operatic repertoire include Goffredo (RINALDO), Tolomeo (GIULIO CESARE), Corindo (L’ORONTEA), Pisandro (IL RITORNO D’ULISSE IN PATRIA), Orfeo (ORFE ED EURIDICE), Artemis (PHAEDRA), L’Ospite (LUCI MIE TRADITRICI), Prince Go-Go (LE GRAND MACABRE) and Oberon (A MIDSUMMERNIGHT’S DREAM).
Georgia Tryfona (Soprano)
Award-winning Greek soprano Georgia Tryfona has sung numerous roles including Despina (COSI FAN TUTTE) for Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg, Clarice (GLI ASTROLGI IMMAGINARI) for Teatro Romano Aosta, Dorinda (ORLANDO) in Konzerthalle Frankfurt (Oder), Zerlina (DON GIOVANNI) Belinda (DIDO & AENEAS), and Barbarina (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO). As an oratorio soloist she has sung with the Komische Oper orchestra in Haydn's THE CREATION and Brahms' GERMAN REQUIEM, as well as in Telemann's JOHANNESPASSION with the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart. In 2018 she sang in PARNESSO IN FESTA at the Händel Festspiele in Halle. In 2021 she sang the role of Rodope in the first modern revival of the opera ISSIPILE (A.Bioni) in a video production of Stettin Opera Theater.
Holden Madagame (Tenor)
Holden Madagame is an American tenor and trans activitist. An alumnus of University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance he has sung numerous roles as a soloist and chorus member. In 2017 he participated in the Glyndebourne Academy, and has since worked for companies such as Passaggio Oper, Fulham Opera, Gerhart Hauptmann Theater in Görlitz, and the Brandenburgisches Konzertorchester. In 2019 he collaborated to do the workshop premiere of GOOD COUNTRY, a newly composed opera about the life of transgender stagecoach driver Charley Parkhurst. This year, after a year-long break due to COVID-19, he premiered his first ‘Dr. Blind’ in DIE FLEDERMAUS for the Schlossfestspiele Ettlingen.
Will Kwiatkowski (Bass)
British bass Will Kwiatkowski made his debut in Germany as the Commendatore (DON GIOVANNI) for Junge Oper Schloss Weikersheim and since then his roles have included Sparafucile (RIGOLETTO), Sprecher (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE), Mischa (DIE VERKAUFTE BRAUT), all for Sommeroper Chorin, as well as Don Basilio (BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA) for Scherzo Opera. He is a keen performer of baroque music, having such the Sorceress (DIDO & AENEAS) for the Marburger Schlossfestspiele, and the bass role in MEDITERRANEO, a baroque pasticcio opera by Kobie van Rensburg. In 2022 he sang the role of Polyphemus (ACIS & GALATEA) for Le Maschere Galanti. In 2022, he will sing the Commendatore (DON GIOVANNI) for Surrey Opera. He is a member of Solistenensemble Phønix16 in Berlin.
Jack Adler-McKean (Musical Director)
Jack Adler-McKean is a conductor, composer, curator, brass instrument specialist and researcher based in Berlin. He was director of Chimera Opera and Vaganza and has conducted performances of Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte di Montepulciano (Italy) and the National Concert Band Orchestra (UK). As a performer, recent projects include concerts with Klangforum Wien and Ensemble Modern, staged productions with the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Luzerner Theatre, collaborations on new solo works by George Lewis and Michael Finnissy, and premières at the BBC Proms and Darmstädter Ferienkurse (2018 scholarship prize winner). His first research book was published by Bärenreiter-Verlag in 2020, while his own compositions and arrangements are available from Potenza Music.
Ensemble Le Maschere Galanti
Violin Tristan Braun**, David Niemann*, Jessica Thomas, Emily Dreyfuss
Cello Lucy Curzon, Johannes Slenczka*
Double bass Mirjam Wittulski*, Johannes Ragg**
Oboe Katharina Stamm, Eleonora Trivella,* Judith Gerhardt**
Piccolo Mirjam-Luise Münzel*
Bassoon Enrico Toffano*, Olivia Palmer-Baker**
Trumpet Ludger Starke, Matthew Conley
Cembalo Balthasar Effmert
Musical Director Jack Adler-McKean
* Only Acis & Galatea
** Only Napoli-Venezia