Forum Deutscher Musikhochschulen - Quartett "Ventus Consort" der Hochschule für Musik Köln

In the organizer's words:

On May 21, 2026, the Ventus Consort from Cologne will bring baroque splendour to the Mathias-Jakobs-Stadthalle Gladbeck. This ensemble - consisting of four female musicians - has dedicated itself entirely to early music and historical performance practice. This means that the artists play on replicas or originals of historical instruments and are guided by the playing styles of the Baroque era in order to achieve the most authentic sound possible. Their program bears the poetic title "Daphne & Apollo - Laurel instead of Love" and is dedicated to one of the most moving metamorphoses in ancient mythology: the story of the nymph Daphne, who prefers to become a laurel tree rather than give herself to Apollo, the god of love. 🌿

This story is brought to life musically in works and arrangements by Georg Friedrich Händel and Georg Philipp Telemann - two Baroque composers who were inspired by such myths. Handel, for example, created a cantata "Apollo e Dafne", whose arias and recitatives are performed (or instrumentally adapted) by the Ventus Consort in chamber music form. Telemann, in turn, set numerous scenes from the ancient world of gods and heroes to music in his cantatas and operas; the ensemble presents selected pieces and movements that focus on the interplay between love and rejection, between transformation and fulfillment.

In terms of sound, a fascinating journey into the past awaits you: recorders and transverse flutes weave sweet melodies, a baroque oboe adds soft, pastoral tones, and a lively dialog between the instruments unfolds over the grounding continuo (such as viola da gamba and harpsichord). You will hear how Baroque music can tell dramatic stories - completely without words: shimmering runs symbolize the rustling of leaves, dissonant chords hint at Apollo's astonishment and despair, and a solemn sarabande at the end crowns Daphne with the evergreen of laurel. 🌹🎶

The Ventus Consort, whose members trained in Cologne and have already been successful at competitions (e.g. the International Handel Competition 2025 in Göttingen), perform with a palpable passion for early music. They combine youthful freshness with profound stylistic knowledge - every ornamentation, every trill is spot on, and yet the interpretation is never dry, but highly expressive and captivating. For the audience, this evening offers the opportunity to experience baroque music up close and in an intimate setting. Whether you are a baroque fan or simply open to new (old!) music - let yourself be enchanted by the sounds of the baroque era and experience how Daphne and Apollo come to life musically. This concert promises to be as educational as it is sensual and another highlight in the multifaceted series of the Forum of German Music Academies.

Price information:

Normal price EUR 6.00 Reduction for pupils, students, trainees EUR 3.00 Gladbeck Card holders EUR 1.50 Optional appointment voucher (minimum purchase of 3 vouchers) EUR 3.50 Ticket prices plus € 1.50 fees