It's not often you get to hear a world premiere on a concert dedicated to the music of 18th-century composer Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries, but Vivaldi by Candlelight music director Gerald Elias has come up with such a work for this year's edition of the popular series.
A violin sonata by Francesco Geminiani, orchestrated by his contemporary Charles Avison, recently was found inside a wall during renovation of Avison's former home in London. Boston Symphony harpsichordist Mark Kroll, a friend of Elias' and scholar of Baroque music, edited the piece and will be on hand when the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra gives its premiere.
Kroll will be the soloist in two harpsichord concertos: one by J.S. Bach, which Elias said "we all know as the E Major violin concerto" (transcription for other instruments was common during the Baroque era), and one by Portuguese composer Carlos de Seixas, who Elias said was "quite famous in his day" before the 1755 Lisbon earthquake destroyed most of his scores.
This being the Vivaldi by Candlelight concert, there are two works by the Baroque master on this year's program — a pair of sinfonias that are new to Elias but that he characterized as "terrific showoff pieces for the orchestra." Elias himself won't be playing violin on this one; he's taking a break after playing two Vivaldi concertos last year. "Just waving the stick is a lot easier to do," he said.
A concerto grosso by Geminiani rounds out the program.
Where • First Presbyterian Church, 12 C St., Salt Lake City
When • Saturday, 8 p.m.
Tickets • $45; benefit for Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy; www.utahdiplomacy.org
Catherine Reese Newton
It's not often you get to hear a world premiere on a concert dedicated to the music of 18th-century composer Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries, but Vivaldi by Candlelight music director Gerald Elias has come up with such a work for this year's edition of the popular series.
A violin sonata by Francesco Geminiani, orchestrated by his contemporary Charles Avison, recently was found inside a wall during renovation of Avison's former home in London. Boston Symphony harpsichordist Mark Kroll, a friend of Elias' and scholar of Baroque music, edited the piece and will be on hand when the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra gives its premiere.
Kroll will be the soloist in two harpsichord concertos: one by J.S. Bach, which Elias said "we all know as the E Major violin concerto" (transcription for other instruments was common during the Baroque era), and one by Portuguese composer Carlos de Seixas, who Elias said was "quite famous in his day" before the 1755 Lisbon earthquake destroyed most of his scores.
This being the Vivaldi by Candlelight concert, there are two works by the Baroque master on this year's program — a pair of sinfonias that are new to Elias but that he characterized as "terrific showoff pieces for the orchestra." Elias himself won't be playing violin on this one; he's taking a break after playing two Vivaldi concertos last year. "Just waving the stick is a lot easier to do," he said.
A concerto grosso by Geminiani rounds out the program.
Where • First Presbyterian Church, 12 C St., Salt Lake City
When • Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m.
Tickets • $45; benefit for Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy; www.utahdiplomacy.org
Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune (left) Gerald Elias and (right) David Cowley solo on Concerto for oboe and violin in C minor, BWV 1060R by J.S. Bach during the 30th Annual Vivaldi by Candlelight Benefit Concert at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City on December 15, 2012.
Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune Musicians perform during the 30th Annual Vivaldi by Candlelight Benefit Concert at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City on December 15, 2012.
Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune Lynnette Stewart solos on violin during "La Primavera" (Spring) of Vivaldi's "Le Quattro Stagioni" (The Four Seasons) during the 30th Annual Vivaldi by Candlelight Benefit Concert at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City on December 15, 2012.
Kim Raff | The Salt Lake Tribune Lynnette Stewart solos on violin during "La Primavera" (Spring) of Vivaldi's "Le Quattro Stagioni" (The Four Seasons) during the 30th Annual Vivaldi by Candlelight Benefit Concert at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City on December 15, 2012.