Catacoustic Consort kicks off its 13th season on
October 25, with an absolutely unique event for the city of Cincinnati. In
performance with Catacoustic will be Catharina Meints, one of the great viola
da gamba virtuosos in the world. To have an opportunity to hear her play would
be reason enough to celebrate, but something else makes this appearance
unmissable.
Meints is the owner and curator of the internationally
famous Caldwell Collection of Viols, one of the most important collections of
antique instruments in the world. She and her husband, the late James Caldwell,
spent decades acquiring, restoring, and performing on viols built in the 17th
and 18th centuries. These
instruments were built during the height of the viol’s popularity, by craftsmen
as well known as Niccolò Amati and Joachim Tielke. This was a time when the sound
of the instrument was not the only consideration—the physical object itself was
considered a work of art, lovingly worked in etchings and inlay, sometimes tattooed
with pictures or maps. The collection is usually housed in a climate-controlled
environment in Oberlin, Ohio, but for the first time in years Ms. Meints will
be bringing several of them here to Cincinnati. They will not be on display,
for us to look at behind the glass—they will be played right in front of us. Unlike
most museum instrument collections, these are kept alive by frequent playing.
Meints has recently published a beautiful book about the
collection. The Caldwell Collection of
Viols is packed with gorgeous photographs, a memoir of a lifetime of
collecting, and an audio CD of each and every one being played. Copies of this
large-format, multimedia production will also be available for purchase at the
concert.
This event is part of the Constella Festival. Don’t miss
this extraordinary opportunity to see and hear one of the greatest instrument
collections anywhere. It’s happening only here in Cincinnati.
And while you’re at it, why not pick up tickets for the entire
Catacoustic season? This concert is only the first of an unprecedented series
of concert gems, including guest artists from Germany and Italy, vocal and
instrumental music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and a tour through
some of the most beautiful venues in the city. Tickets may be purchased online
at catacoustic.com. 
