Featuring
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Erin Helyard* director / harpsichord
Zoë Black** violin
*MSO Artist in Residence
Program
Vivaldi Concerto for Violin in F, RV 569
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No.3
Vivaldi Concerto for Violin in G minor, RV 577
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No.1
Telemann Overture (Suite) in D Major, TWV 55:D22
About this performance
Australia’s own baroque star Erin Helyard leads the MSO from the harpsichord, showcasing the incredible variation of three of the era’s most famous contemporaries.
- A violinist by training, Antonio Vivaldi wrote over 500 concertos – works for solo instrument and chamber orchestra. Nearly half of these were written for his beloved violin, and his intimate knowledge of the instrument and its capabilities allowed him to push the boundaries of virtuosic possibility. Featuring the MSO’s Tair Khisambeev on violin, these concertos in F and G give us a moody, thrilling snapshot of a composer at the height of musical innovation.
- Often lauded as the greatest composer of all time, Bach’s famous Brandenburg Concertos were written for a potential patron, whom Bach hoped would give him a job. Taking inspiration from the concertos of Vivaldi, this set highlights the facility of several instruments, instead of just one. Like a conversation with many voices, Bach’s compositional genius foregrounds independent melodies for each instrument with spectacular clarity.
- Telemann’s Overture Suite was dedicated to a hunting enthusiast, and it’s easy to hear why. This selection of musical scenes feels like a day in the countryside with no shortage of thrills, spills, and unexpected encounters.
Duration: approx. 75 minutes, no interval
