Programs

Italian music is one of the most popular repertoires of the Baroque era in the camp of early music lovers and performers alike. Antonio Vivaldi and Benedetto Marcello – two Venetian composers who were destined for a different career by their parents, but eventually music became their craft. Although Vivaldi was ordained a priest in 1703, most of his life revolved around writing music. The other Venetian, Marcello, was destined for a legal career by his parents from a noble family, but in the end, he also chose music as his profession.

In addition to these two famous composers, two other Italian masters are introduced in the programme, whose influence greatly shaped the development of the cello and its repertoire. Domenico Gabrielli dedicated his short life to the development of cello playing and first composed for cello in the second half of the 17th century, while Francesco Geminiani introduced great innovations in his cello playing.