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Ivo Haun de Oliveira is a celebrated tenor and lutenist, known for his captivating interpretations of early music. Born in France and raised in Brazil, he relocated to Basel, Switzerland, in 2010 to pursue advanced studies at the prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Under the mentorship of Gerd Türk and Richard Levitt, he earned his Master's degree in Early Music Singing in 2015.
Specializing in the virtuosic singing styles of the Renaissance and Early Baroque periods, Ivo's artistry is marked by a deep commitment to historical authenticity. His expertise encompasses improvisation, including improvised counterpoint, historical acting techniques, rhetoric in musical performance, and the use of original notation from the 14th to 17th centuries.
As a lutenist, he often accompanies himself, adding a unique dimension to his performances. In 2020, Ivo's talent was recognized with the Bovicelli Prize at the Bovicelli Competition held at Schloss Weissenbrunn. His dedication to the craft extends beyond performance; he has imparted his knowledge of historical improvisation at esteemed festivals such as the Ex Tempore Festival in Leipzig and the Festival de Musique Improvisée de Lausanne.
Ivo's versatility as both a soloist and ensemble singer has led to collaborations with renowned groups, including La Cetra Vokalensemble und Barockorchester under Andrea Marcon, La Morra directed by Corina Marti and Michał Gondko, Thélème led by Jean-Christophe Groffe, Basler Madrigalisten conducted by Raphael Immoos, and Le Miroir de Musique with Baptiste Romain. His performances have been featured in prestigious early music festivals and concert series across Europe, the United States, and the Far East.
Critics have lauded Ivo's performances for his ability to convey a wide range of human emotions through music.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Ivo finds solace in nature, often retreating to the woods or mountains to rejuvenate. This connection to the natural world enriches his artistic expression, allowing him to bring a profound sense of authenticity and passion to his performances.
For more information please visit his official website: www.ivohaun.com
Peter Croton is an award-winning lutenist and romantic guitarist, renowned for his captivating performances and recordings as both a soloist and accompanist. Praised by critics as a “lyric poet of the lute” with “breathtaking virtuosity” and an “astonishing range of tone colors and dynamics”, he has made significant contributions to the world of early music.
Born in 1957, Peter's musical journey began at the age of six with folk guitar and singing, later expanding to classical and jazz guitar during his teenage years. He pursued lute studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music under Loris Chobanian and further honed his skills with Eugen Müller-Dombois and Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. In 1984, he won first prize at the Erwin Bodky Competition for Early Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has recorded numerous CDs, appeared on television and radio as soloist and chamber musician. and has appeared at many international festivals.
Peter's versatility spans a wide repertoire, from Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces to his own contemporary compositions. His works for voice and lute have been described as “challenging and refined... highly suited for inclusion in today's concert repertoire.”
As an educator, Peter imparts his passion for lute & early music to students at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Conservatories of Basel and Bern, where he teaches lute, romantic guitar, continuo, and historical performance practice.
His newest books, A Method for the Renaissance Lute, with a supplement for the archlute and A Method for the Baroque Lute based on historical sources have been published by Le Luth Doré. Earlier books include his instruction manual Figured Bass on the Classical Guitar: a practical approach based on historical principles (Amadeus Verlag), Performing Baroque Music on the Classical Guitar (Amazon), and Performing Baroque Music on the Lute & Theorbo (Amazon). Six of his compositions for lute and voice were published by the German Lute Society, and his four new settings of texts by William Shakespeare for lute and voice were published by Tree Edition.
Beyond his teaching and performance career, Peter is the President of the German Lute Society (Deutsche Lautengesellschaft) and the initiator and artistic director of BASEL PLUCKS, a festival dedicated to lute and guitar.
For more information please visit his official website: www.peter-croton.com