The Radiance of the Dresden Orchestra
The orchestra music of the high baroque from Zelenka to Bach
Vivaldi – Zelenka – Telemann – Quantz – Heinichen – J.S. Bach
Alexis Kossenko, traverso, recorder and leader
Irma Niskanen, violin
Finnish Baroque Orchestra
First violin: Irma Niskanen (cm), Tiina Aho-Erola, Anne Pekkala
Second violin: Anthony Marini (prin.), Minna Kangas, Kaisa Ruotsalainen
Viola: Laura Kajander, Tuula Riisalo
Cello: Lea Pekkala
Double bass: Maria Vahervuo
Harpsichord: Marianna Henriksson
Traverso and recorder: Sini Vahervuo
Oboe: Anna Starr, Piia Maunula
Bassoon: Jani Sunnarborg
cm = concertmaster
prin. = principal
In the first half of the 18th century, Dresden became a gathering spot for the most accomplished musicians in Europe. The orchestra of the Elector of Saxony, Augustus II the Strong, was considered the best on the continent and it attracted composers and performers from far and wide. Virtuosic music was composed for the orchestra, often making use of the nuances of the full range of wind instruments – flutes, oboes and bassoons – in addition to the string sound.
The director of the orchestra was the violinist Johann Georg Pisendel, and his friendship with Antonio Vivaldi meant that the orchestra had a lot of Vivaldi’s music on its repertoire – among other works the concerto for violin, two oboes, two recorders and bassoon, with the dedication “per l’orchestra di Dresda”. During this concert we will also hear music by other great names of Dresden: Jan Dismas Zelenka, Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Joachim Quantz and Johann David Heinichen, as well as of course music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The guest soloist and leader of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra is the French flautist and conductor Alexis Kossenko. Kossenko is a much sought after soloist for example in the ensembles Gli Angeli Genève, Orchestre des Champs-Elysées and Concert Spirituel. He is the director of the orchestra Les Ambassadeurs – La Grande Écurie, which has recorded and performed among other things a lot of especially the virtuosic music of the Dresden orchestra.
Duration: 1 h 45 min (incl. intermission)
FiBO's artistic planner Anthony Marini introduces the concert at the House of Nobility on 19 November from 5 pm to 5.30 pm.