La Serenissima explore the network of friendships and collaborations
that helped bring together German and Italian styles during the Baroque,
with concertos by Telemann, Pisendel, Brescianello and others.
The musical world of eighteenth-century Europe was a small one. Despite
the problems presented by contemporary standards of transport, it was
quite normal for composers in one part of Europe to be entirely au fait
with what was happening elsewhere. This is borne out by the closeness of
three German composers: Telemann, godfather to C.P.E. Bach; Pisendel;
and J.S. Bach, who admired both his compatriots and composed some
astoundingly difficult music for the violinist Pisendel. This programme celebrates their music as well as the music of those who contributed to
their musical heritage. Included alongside the German triumvirate are
works by Vivaldi who physically helped with the composition of
Pisendel’s A minor concerto movement, Fasch who was a great friend of
Pisendel and Telemann, and Brescianello, an Italian who helped the
dissemination of Italian instrumental music throughout the
German-speaking lands and whose concertos were played in Dresden by
Pisendel.
