A lovely concert of fairly standard baroque fare, beautifully performed by Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante.
We heard:
- Antonio Lucio Vivaldi – Concerto in G Minor for Strings RV 157
- Wilhelm Friedemann Bach – Sinfonia in F major F67 Die Disonanzen
- Johann Sebastian Bach – Violin Concerto in G minor (after BWV 1056)
- Antonio Lucio Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in B flat major op 8 No 10 La Caccia
- Antonio Lucio Vivaldi – Concerto in D minor Op 3 No 11 for two violins, cello & strings
- Antonio Lucio Vivaldi – Concerto in G minor for 2 violins and cello Op 3 No 2
There’s not much video of Europa Galante from that early period of their existence – but this one of them performing the delicious Vivaldi RV558 gives a good idea of what they looked and sounded like back then.
The inclusion of some WF Bach was a bit unusual. Biondi hasn’t recorded it and I’m not allowed to embed the linked vid, but you can click through to a video of some other Italian geezers performing it – here.
The Vivaldi RV157 also seems to be a bit rare – Biondi has not recorded it. It’ a very sweet piece. Here is the Iris Ensemble performing it.
If you are in search of the sound of Europa Galante with Fabio Biondi playing lots of Vivaldi of the Op 3 and Op 8 variety, then this playlist of mine on YouTube Music will be for you.
Alternatively, if the orchestral works of WF Bach float your boat, then this playlist is for you. I am pretty sure I bought the first album on that playlist on the back of hearing that sinfonia at The Wig that night.