Jacques Aubert (1689–1753) was an important French Baroque composer and violin virtuoso whose career flourished during the reign of Louis XV. Born in Paris, Aubert became one of the leading instrumental musicians of his generation. He served as a member of the prestigious Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi (the Twenty-Four Violins of the King), was first violinist of the Paris Opéra orchestra, and frequently appeared as a soloist at the celebrated Concert Spirituel. His music reflects a successful blend of French elegance and Italian virtuosity, helping to modernize French instrumental style in the first half of the eighteenth century.
Although Aubert is best known for his violin sonatas and concertos, several of his sonatas were designed to be performed on either violin or traverso (Baroque flute). His collection Six Sonatas for Traverso and Harpsichord demonstrates the growing popularity of the traverso in France and present the expressive possibilities of the instrument. These sonatas combine graceful French dance movements with the lyrical melodies and technical brilliance associated with the Italian sonata tradition.
The six sonatas feature a rich dialogue between the traverso and the harpsichord. Rather than merely accompanying the flute, the harpsichord participates actively in the musical conversation, providing harmonic support, rhythmic vitality, and occasional contrapuntal interplay. The works typically alternate slow and fast movements, allowing performers to explore a wide range of moods, from tender and reflective passages to lively and virtuosic displays. Characteristic Baroque dance forms such as gavottes and gigues also appear, reflecting Aubert’s attachment to French musical traditions.
Anna Reichhold is a German baroque flutist whose artistic focus lies on the expressive richness of 18th-century music. She studied traverso with Benedek Csalog and participated in masterclasses with Georges Barthel, Marc Hantaï at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, and Barthold Kuijken.
Originally from Taiwan, harpsichordist Tung-Han Hu performs with great passion on historical keyboard instruments and has won numerous international competitions, including in Magdeburg, Göttingen, Leipzig, and Bonn. His concert appearances have taken him to renowned festivals such as the Bachfest Leipzig, the Telemann Festival in Magdeburg, and the MA Festival Bruges. He studied harpsichord with Prof. Mitzi Meyerson in Berlin and continued his training in harpsichord, fortepiano, and chamber music with Prof. Christine Schornsheim in Munich, graduating with distinction.
