Dueling Viols: Vivaldi, Gregori, Dall’Abaco & Brescianello

September 6, 2023, 10:00 pm

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Ferdinand I, seated at a table, surrounded by seven musicians. One holds an archlute; Two violas da gamba are present. A brown dog wearing a collar looks up at his master.
Anton Domenico Gabbiani (1652-1726): "Prince Ferdinando de' Medici and his musicians"

Along with being known as a composer, which is how we know Antonio Vivaldi today, the great Italian Baroque master was a renowned violin virtuoso as well; no further evidence is needed than the famous violin concertos The Four Seasons. When Vivaldi composed for several instruments, it becomes clear that there were others in his time who could also find their way around a fingerboard. On this edition of Baroque&Before, we’ll hear incredible displays of hair-raising, dueling virtuosity. Concerto Copenhagen, featuring violinists Adrian Chandler and Fredrik From, present works by Vivaldi and some of Vivaldi’s best and finest contemporaries: Gregori, Dall’Abaco, and Brescianello.

Tonight’s program was recorded live in concert September 25, 2021, in Queen’s Hall of the Royal Library, Copenhagen. Thanks to WFMT’s association with the European Broadcasting Union, we’re able to offer tonight’s program as a stream for 30 days following the broadcast. A blue “Listen” button will appear when the stream is accessible.

  • Playlist

    Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
    Concerto in G for Two Violins and Two Cellos, RV 575

     

    Giovanni Lorenzo Gregori (1663-1745)
    Concerto grosso in g minor, Opus 2/9

     

    Evaristo Felice Dall’Abaco (1675-1742)
    Concerto in B-Flat for Strings, Opus 5/4

     

    Antonio Vivaldi
    Concerto in G for Two Violins, RV516

     

    Antonio Vivaldi
    Concerto in D for Two Violins and Two Cellos, RV 564

     

    Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello (ca 1690-1758)
    Concerto in G for Violin

     

    Antonio Vivaldi
    Concerto in D for Two Violins

     

    Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello
    Chaconne in A (encore)

     

    ARTISTS
    Concerto Copenhagen
    Adrian Chandler, conductor, violin
    Fredrik From, violin
    Judith-Maria Blomsterberg, cello
    Hanna Loftsdóttir, cello


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