3/7/2012
Per il basso

This evening of early music will transport the audience to 17th and 18th century Italy. Following the works of such composers as Bellerofonte Castaldi (1581–1649), Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741), we will take a tour of the significant music centres of the time. The title of the concert, Per il basso, refers to the manner bass parts were marked in 17th century scores. The instruments used are of note: Sam Chapman will play the theorbo – a copy of a historical instrument, Nicholas Parle will play an Italian copy of a harpsichord from 1701 and Jakub Kościukiewicz will play a cello made at Sigismund Liebig’s workshop in 1790. Let the sounds take us to a Venice ruled by the doges: a city that amazed Old World inhabitants with exotic spices, coffee, colourful silk – a delightful and impressive array. The music composed in such a setting must indeed be extraordinary!