Seattle, WA ‑ Early Music Seattle is thrilled to present an original program, Six Dresden Concertos with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra directed by Alexander Weimann along with concert master Rachell Ellen Wong.
This concert continues the theme introduced in an earlier concert of the musical world of Johann Georg Pisendel (1687-1755) and also follows EMS’ recent project of Six Brandenburg concertos. Director of the court orchestra in Dresden for many years and a legendary violinist, Pisendel amassed a library of music with a truly international character. In this program we step away from his orchestral works to explore his music for smaller forces, featuring our principal players in concertos for violins, viola d’amore, oboe, oboe d’amore, bassoon, horns, and harpsichord, with works by Pisendel, Telemann, Brescianello, Cattaneo, and Böhm.
The highlight of the program is the three-movement Concerto in D for violin solo, two horns, two oboes, bassoon, and strings. While the violin takes center stage, especially in the Andante, the horns and winds fully engage to create a true masterpiece.
What makes this concert memorable is that it will be the last performance of Alexander Weimann directing the Seattle Baroque Orchestra. Weimann is leaving in order to focus on various music composition projects, as well as his teaching duties at the University of British Columbia. His engagement with SBO will end at the conclusion of the 2022/23 season.
Alexander Weimann
Weimann has been the Music Director of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra for the last eight years. Since joining the orchestra in 2015, Weimann embraced the players in residence in Seattle as he augmented the orchestra with key touring artists—bringing his impeccable musical sensibilities to Seattle audiences.
One of his significant achievements is the refashioning of the ensemble in response to the pandemic. Weimann’s more concise, flexible model relies on a smaller core of virtuosi—both making use of the high level of artistry found locally while also reflecting the economic priorities of the new and evolving arts landscape.
About Seattle Baroque Orchestra
The Seattle Baroque Orchestra is a pocket orchestra comprised of leading-edge artists; it breathes new life into early music through innovative performances and uncommon collaborations. With varied musical programs, SBO engages audiences through world-class productions in a variety of local venues. Our one-of-a-kind concert experiences will turn everything you thought you knew about early music on its head, as we take you on musical journeys that explore new repertoire, challenge the limits of what you thought was possible, and find exciting ways to reimagine the classics.
| Seattle Baroque Musicians
Alexander Weimann, Music Director |
| Christine Wilkinson Beckman, violin Curtis Foster, oboe Sadie Glass, horn Nate Helgeson, bassoon Toma Iliev, violin Kris Kwapis, trumpet Todd Larson, bass Pablo Moreno, oboe Annabeth Shirley, cello Jeff Snedeker, horn Lindsey Strand-Polyak. Viola |
Early Music Seattle website: https://earlymusicseattle.org/
About Seattle Baroque Orchestra: https://earlymusicseattle.org/seattle-baroque-orchestra-reimagined/
About Alexander Weimann: https://alexanderweimann.com/
About Rachell Ellen Wong: https://www.rachellwong.com/
Concert Information:
Early Music Seattle presents
Music of the Ages
SEATTLE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Six Dresden Concertos
Saturday, January 21 | 7:30pm | Benaroya Hall: Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall
Sunday, January 22 | 1:30pm | Town Hall Seattle
Tickets : earlymusicseattle.org
