‘Les Vielleux de la Reine’ is a baroque hurdy gurdy duo including Francesco Giusta (IT) and Ron Höllein (GER). Named after the French Queen Maria Leszczyńska (1703 – 1768), without whom the hurdy gurdy might have never been fashionable in 18th century France, they aim to bring back an almost forgotten repertoire of music for the said instrument.
"LES AMUSEMENTS D'UNE HEURE"
This program, which takes its name from two oeuvres by Charles Bâton and Jean-François Boüin, explores the music of the hurdy gurdy virtuosos in 18th century France. A colourful bouquet can be heard, ranging from courtly dances to compositions that are stylistically ahead of their time, whereby the central motifs of the pastoral fashion – those of an idealised country life – are always in the foreground. Les Vielleux de la Reine will play suites and sonatas by Bâton, Boüin, Danguy, Dupuits and Ravet, which were composed for two baroque hurdy gurdies.
Anton-Raphael Mengs (1728-79) – Jeune homme à la vielle
FRANCESCO GIUSTA
Francesco Giusta takes interest in the hurdy gurdy at the age of 11. He later improves and develops his technique with virtuoso such as German Diaz, Matthias Loibner, Valentin Clastrier and Tobie Miller.
He has played in several bands, amongst folk and early music, and has been a guest of well-known groups such as Lou Dalfin, Malanova, L’Orage and Riccardo Tesi. He has attended many folk and early music festivals and has held several workshops and masterclasses in Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, UK, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and USA. He recorded several CDs, amongst other his latest record “The Hurdy-Gurdy at the French Royal Court” in 2021 with his Baroque Duo.
In 2015 he won the first prize at the ‘Concours soliste de Vielle à Roue’ at Le Son Continu festival in Chateau d’Ars, France, getting the title of ‘Maître sonneur’.
Since 2011 he held regular masterclasses and courses in Germany and in his hometown as well as concerts with his projects. At present, he plays with Trigomigo, Tre Martelli, in solo project, his Baroque Duo “Les Vielleux de la Reine” and teaches in Torino, Cuneo and Frankfurt.
RON HÖLLEIN
Ron Höllein is a German hurdy-gurdy player who grew up in Coburg and whose musical journey began at the age of 12 with the classical guitar. He finally came to the hurdy-gurdy in 2018, taking regular lessons and attending masterclasses from internationally renowned hurdy-gurdy players including Tobie Miller, Simon Wascher and Johannes Geworkian Hellman.
In addition to solo concerts throughout Europe, he has been playing together with Francesco Giusta in the baroque hurdy-gurdy duo ‘Les Vielleux de la Reine’ since 2022 and with Angela Ambrosini in the duo ‘Chiavi d’Amore’ since 2023.
He also won first prize at the ‘Concours soliste de Vielle à Roue’ in Chateau d’Ars, France, as part of the ‘Le son continu’ festival in 2022 and was sponsored by the Klaus Thimm Music Fund in 2023.
Ron Höllein has been studying early music at the State University of Music Trossingen since 2023.
