Programme

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)

Arpeggio (excerpt from the Toccata in D minor) 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 

Chromatic Fantasy BWV 903

Johann Sebastian Bach

Concerto BWV 974 

(after the oboe concerto in D minor by Alessandro Marcello)

Andante, Adagio,  Presto

Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1750)

Sonata in A major (Adagio e cantabile) K 208

Sonata in B minor (Allegro) K 27

Johann Sebastian Bach 

Concerto BWV 972 

(after Vivaldi Op. 3, no. 9 in D major from l’Estro Armonico) 

Allegro, Larghetto,  Allegro

Benedetto Marcello (1686-1739)

Adagio (excerpt from Sonata no. 7 for harpsichord)

Johann Sebastian Bach 

Andante (excerpt from Concerto in C Major, BWV Anh. 151)

Johann Sebastian Bach

Toccata in E minor BWV 914 

Antonio Valente (ca. 1520 - 1580)

Lo ballo dell'intorcia con sette mutanze

Gagliarda napolitana con molte mutanze

Johann Sebastian Bach 

Allegro (cadenza) from Concerto BWV 594 

(after Vivaldi, “Grosso Mogul” Op. 7 no. 5) 

Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971 :

Without Tempo Indication, Andante, Presto

Performer

Harpsichord: Justin Taylor 

Programme Notes

Italy has inspired all the greatest composers and Bach is no exception. His encounter with Vivaldi's Venetian music in 1713 in the music library of the ducal court would mark him forever. In love with this concert music that takes us from intimacy to the most exalted virtuosity in the blink of an eye, Johann Sebastian Bach transcribed some of these concertos for solo harpsichord, so many masterpieces in which the composer shows himself at times fiery, at times sentimental. This Italian concertante effervescence would also influence other works by Bach, such as the Chromatic Fantasy or the Toccatas. The masterful Italian Concerto, written some twenty years later, achieves the incredible synthesis between Bach's genius and his encounter with Italian music: ardent, sparkling and moving.

Biography

Justin Taylor

Franco-American harpsichordist Justin Taylor rose to prominence at 23, winning First Prize at the 2015 International Musica Antiqua Competition in Bruges, along with the Audience, Alpha, and EUBO Developing Trust Prizes. That year, he co-founded Le Consort with violinists Sophie de Bardonnèche and Théotime Langlois de Swarte, focusing on the trio sonata repertoire. The ensemble tours globally and has earned acclaim. In 2017, Justin was nominated for Young Soloist at the French Victoires de la Musique and won Musical Revelation of the Year from the Professional Critics Association.

He performs at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including the Philharmonie de Paris, BOZAR Brussels, Kölner Philharmonie, LSO St Luke’s London, and Oji Hall Tokyo, and has appeared as a soloist with leading orchestras such as Concerto Köln and Orchestre National de Lille.