
This program will enchant you with storytelling in narrative chamber works by three Baroque masters. Antonio Vivaldi tantalizes and surprises with a haunted soundscape in his Night Concerto for flute and strings. François Couperin’s Apotheosis of Corelli is his self-invented mythological tale of the ascension of his musical idol Corelli to the top of Mount Parnasus. The work is a trio sonata for violins and continuo with narration (read in English) preceding each movement.
Bach’s Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother is a poignant work revealing his early creativity and his ability to blend emotional depth with intricate musical forms. The piece was written as a farewell to his older brother, Johann Jacob Bach, who was moving away from their hometown. The concert closes with Part I of Francesco Geminiani’s rarely-performed epic composition The Enchanted Forest. This work for chamber orchestra in the form of a concerto grosso depicts the defense of a dark, wooded forest by a sorcerer and witches.