Stradivari in London: Italian Exuberance in English Baroque Music

Followed by a Buffet of Italian Desserts, Cakes & Coffee

The Artists:

Rebecca Myers, Soprano 

Krista Bennion Feeney & Theresa Solomon Baroque Violin

Mark Kramer, Five-String Baroque ‘Cello Piccola by Barak Norman, 1718

Dušan Balarin, Theorbo & Baroque Guitar     Leon Schelhase, Harpsichord            

From Italy, came an exciting style of Baroque music which spread like wildfire throughout all of Europe. When it reached England, Italian violinists and composers became enormously influential, swaying the course of music and causing a craze for the spice and fire of the imported style. Instruments by the famous Italian violin maker, Antonio Stradivari were brought to London from Cremona greatly inspiring English makers, particularly the prestigious luthier, Barak Norman. Cremonese violinist and composer, Gasparo Visconti arrived in London in 1702 where he married Cristina Steffkin for whom Stradivari had made a special ‘cello with five strings of slightly diminutive proportion. The influx of Stradivari instruments from Cremona and composers from all over Italy had a significant effect on the landscape of music in London. Even the bastion of English music, George Frideric Handel, who had left his native Germany for a three-year sojourn to Italy, immersed himself in the Italian style. Handel’s effervescent ‘Gloria’ was probably written in Italy before the composer settled in London where his Italianate music became legendary.    

The Program

Giovanni Maria Bononcini, Trio Sonata Op. 1 No. 4

Nicola Matteis, Preludio & Diverse bizzarrie sopra la Vecchia Sarabanda o pur Ciaccona

Tarquinio Merula, Ciaccona Op. 12 No. 20

Angelo Maria Fiorè, Sonata di Violoncello in G Major

Francesco Corbetta, Preludio & Chaconne for Guitar

Gasparo Visconti, Preludio in D major & Trio Sonata Opus 1 No. VII  in F Major 

George Frideric Handel, ‘Gloria’  for Soprano & Strings