Programme

L'ESTRO INTELLIGENTE

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

- Concerto for strings in G major RV 151 alla rustica

Presto / Adagio / Allegro

- Concerto in G minor for 2 violins and strings from L'estro armonico Op. 3 No. 2

Adagio e spiccato / Allegro / Larghetto / Allegro

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 

- Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major BWV 1050

Allegro / Affettuoso / Allegro

Interval

Antonio Vivaldi

- Violin concerto in D major from L'estro armonico Op. 3 No. 9

Allegro / Larghetto / Allegro

- Concerto in A major for 2 violins and strings from L'estro armonico Op. 3 No. 5

Allegro / Largo / Allegro

Johann Sebastian Bach

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major BWV 1049

Allegro / Andante / Presto

Performers

Concerto de’ Cavalieri Conductor: Marcello Di Lisa

Soloists: Violin: Federico Guglielmo Flute: Maria De Martini Harpsichord: Yu Yashima Concertino II: Carlo Lazzaroni

Concerto de’ Cavalieri: Solo Violin & Concertino I: Federico Guglielmo Concertino II: Carlo Lazzaroni Violins: Katarzyna Solecka, Iben Bøgvad Kejser, Alessia Pazzaglia, Giancarlo Ceccacci Viola: Gabriele Politi Cello: Alessandro Andriani Double Bass: Luca Cola Harpsichord: Yu Yashima Recorders: Maria De Martini, Carolina Pace

Programme Notes

Bach and Vivaldi: the Brandenburg “Italian” concertos and L’estro armonico

This programme features and juxtaposes two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos and three of the most spectacular pieces taken from Antonio Vivaldi’s L’estro armonico, aiming to highlight the musical relationship between these two great masters of the Baroque age. 

On one side Vivaldi, who incorporated the traditional forms of the Italian early 18th century music into a scintillating new style, which was then considered revolutionary. The three featured concertos – scored for solo violin or 2 solo violins – actually shows, as mentioned in the programme’s  title, the most daring experimentation and modern instrumental prowess.

On the other side, Bach, who knew Vivaldi’s music and also transcribed for the keyboard several of his L’estro armonico pieces. The programme presents his celebrated Brandenburg “Italian style” concertos – in particular the 4th and the 5th – that have always revealed how he is not only the tutelary genius of the German musical tradition but also a composer unexpectedly open to melodic invention, who made reasoned virtuosity one of his seals: that, indeed, of an estro intelligente.   

Biography

Concerto de’ Cavalieri: Ensemble 

Considered as “one of Italy’s most vibrant and exciting groups dedicated to period-instrument performance” (Fanfare Magazine), “sensible historically and stylish artistically” (Gramophone), Concerto de’ Cavalieri appears under the direction of its founder Marcello Di Lisa at some of the most prestigious international venues and festivals such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Staatsoper Berlin, Philharmonie Essen, Kölner Philharmonie, Herkulessaal München, De Bijloke, De Singel, Arsenal de Metz, CCB in Lisbon, Rheingau Musik Festival, Musikfest Bremen, Schwetzinger SWR Festspiele, Festival d’Ambronay, Grafenegg Festival, Festival de Radio France among others.

The activity of the orchestra is also enhanced by collaboration with internationally renowned soloists like Daniela Barcellona, Mari Eriksmoen, Vivica Genaux, Ann Hallenberg, Sara Mingardo, Valer Sabadus, Carolyn Sampson, Andreas Scholl, Maurice Steger.

Besides the great baroque repertoire, Concerto de’ Cavalieri is very active in the recovery of rarities and forgotten works, and also enjoys a busy recording activity for Sony. In particular, it has been engaged in The Baroque Project, a multi-year project with Sony Classical on Italian Opera in the 18th Century, aiming to rediscover rare operatic masterworks from the Italian Baroque. The first four CDs were respectively dedicated to opera arias and overtures by Alessandro Scarlatti, Pergolesi, Vivaldi and Albinoni, with many world premieres. They have all received critical acclaim. The latest album in this series features Alessandro Scarlatti’s Opera Overtures and Concertos in seven parts, and again includes numerous world premiere recordings.