Orpheus Baroque Stockholm - La discussione

The bassoon gained ground in the seventeenth century and replaced its predecessors, such as the dulcian. Orpheus Baroque welcomes the versatile, award-winning Italian bassoonist Sergio Azzolini. He is represented on numerous albums, including four volumes of bassoon concertos by Vivaldi – who wrote no less than 39 pieces, thus contributing to elevating an instrument that had previously been kept in the background. 

We hear two works by Vivaldi as well as a piece by his contemporary fellow countryman, Benedetto Marcello – both of whom were from Venice, the centre of music of that time. The title of this concert, La discussione, is not derived from any of the pieces, but is rather an expression of Sergio Azzolini’s understanding of how the instruments are “in discussion” in Vivaldi’s Concerto in E-minor. We also hear German Baroque in so-called galant style by Johann Friedrich Fasch, and a piece by German-born Hinrich Philip Johnsen – who was active in Sweden and one of the founders of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1771.

Critically acclaimed ensemble Orpheus Baroque regularly works with prominent guests from the international Baroque music scene. Artistic director is the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic’s solo cellist, Johannes Rostamo, as well as concertmaster and Baroque violinist Elin Gabrielsson, a member, among other ensembles, of Italian Europa Galante.