6th BAROQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL: 1723
KÖTHEN - LONDON, UN PICCOLO VIAGGIO

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Festival artistic direction Dimos Goudaroulis

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Transcriptions and original repertoire for violoncello piccolo
 
In 1723 J. S. Bach closes the period he lived in Köthen and leaves for Leipzig, where he will remain until the end of his life. During the almost seven years he stayed in Köthen (1717–1723) as Kapellmeister at the court of the music-loving Prince Leopold, Bach, at his most creative age and with excellent musicians at his disposal, wrote some of his most important works of instrumental and chamber music, such as the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, the Sonatas for violin and harpsichord, the Suites for violoncello solo and possibly the three Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord.
In the first part of the program, Dimos Goudaroulis on violoncello piccolo and the outstanding French-Brazilian harpsichordist Bruno Procopio present transcriptions of works for violin or for viola da gamba and harpsichord that J.S. Bach wrote in Köthen, in a particularly original rendition with the rare and refined timbre of the violoncello piccolo, an instrument associated with Bach and his entourage. The second part of the concert includes authentic repertoire for violoncello piccolo and basso continuo, featuring one of Giuseppe Valentini's highly intriguing 12 Allettamenti, published in London in 1720, and two Sonatas by the Italian cellist Andrea Caporale, who lived in London and worked closely with Georg Friedrich Handel.