Royal Northern Sinfonia - Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Lineup
About the Event
Royal Northern Sinfonia and violinist Maria Włoszczowska bring a riot of baroque colour, character and storytelling down the East Coast Mainline from Gateshead for their Kings Place debut.
They begin with two early masters of the violin as we know it: Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber and Georg Muffat, twining their music together in dynamic conversation.
Biber’s Sonata Representativa is playful, curious and full of surprises. Birds sing, frogs croak and the music constantly shape-shifts, reminding us just how imaginative composers were in the 17th century. Muffat’s Concerto Grosso No. 4 opens things up. It is bold and brilliant, mixing French elegance with Italian fire and giving the whole orchestra a chance to shine as individuals and as a group.
From there, they move on to the best-known baroque voices: Georg Philipp Telemann and Antonio Vivaldi. Telemann’s Overture-Suite, Burlesque de Don Quichotte, is pure character writing, blending traditional classical forms with fiery folk dances to capture the joy and drama of Cervantes’ hapless hero. Witty, warm and wonderfully vivid, it never takes itself too seriously.
And then there is Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Instantly recognisable but never worn out. With Maria Włoszczowska directing from the violin, you will hear every storm, birdsong and icy shiver afresh, crackling with energy, detail and drive.
This event will last approximately 80 minutes with an interval.
About Royal Northern Sinfonia
Internationally renowned and calling Gateshead home. Thirty-seven musicians at the top of their game. Electrifying music, old and new. All the talent, determination and creativity of the North East on a worldwide stage. From their home at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Royal Northern Sinfonia share the joy and wonder of orchestral music with thousands of people across the North of England and beyond every year.
About Maria Włoszczowska
Polish violinist Maria Włoszczowska is recognised for her versatile musicianship, performing as a soloist, director and chamber musician, in addition to her roles as Artistic Partner of Royal Northern Sinfonia and Director and Leader of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Recent career highlights include Maria’s solo debut at the BBC Proms with Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor Dinis Sousa; directing the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at Mozartwoche Salzburg and in Kronberg; directing the Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife; performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 with Orquestra XXI; and performing concertos by Vivaldi, Bach and Telemann with Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum under the baton of Reinhard Goebel at Leipzig’s Gewandhaus.
Reviews
‘Wherever the orchestra play and whoever they share a stage