May 17 | 11 am | 496 Huron Street | toronto
Matinée Concert at the Istituto
Stefano Demicheli, harpsichord, and Elisa Citterio, violin, in concert at the Gallery of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura
Programme:
Johann Sebastian Bach from the Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord:
WV 1019 in G major
Allegro, Largo , Allegro, Adagio, Allegro,
BWV 1016 in E major
Adagio, allegro, Adagio, allegro.
BWV 1017 in C minor
Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro.
Johann Sebastian Bach was better known as a virtuoso organist than as a composer in his day. His sacred music, organ and choral works, and other instrumental music had an enthusiasm and seeming freedom that concealed immense rigor. Bach’s use of counterpoint was brilliant and innovative, and the immense complexities of his compositional style — which often included religious and numerological symbols that seem to fit perfectly together in a profound puzzle of special codes — still amaze musicians today. Many consider him the greatest composer of all time.
Elisa Citterio, violin
Elisa joined Tafelmusik as Music Director last season. She moved to Toronto from Italy, where she divided her artistic life between orchestral work and an intense schedule as a chamber musician. She has recorded and toured, often as leader or concertmaster, with such ensembles as Dolce & Tempesta, Europa Galante and Il Giardino Armonico. In 2000, Elisa was selected as concertmaster and soloist with the orchestra of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala di Milano, where she received intensive professional training in orchestral and chamber music repertoire, as well as violin technique.
Elisa Citterio’s discography includes more than 35 recordings with Accademia I Filarmonici (Vivaldi), Europa Galante (Vivaldi and Bach), Zefiro (Handel), and many more; as well as a number of opera recordings with the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala under such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Chailly, Edward Gardner, Daniele Gatti, Daniel Harding, Lorin Maazel, and Riccardo Muti.
Stefano Demicheli, harpsichord
Stefano has worked alongside many important soloists and directors (Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, Corrado Rovaris, Gottfried van der Goltz, Ivor Bolton, Giovanni Antonini, Paul Goodwin, Renè Jacobs, Ottavio Dantone) and has collaborated with the most important Italian symphony orchestras. His intense concert activities has brought him to perform in prestigious concert halls and music festivals worldwide. He was soloist at La Scala in Milan. He is also a passionate instructor; since 1999 he teaches International Courses in Ancient Music in Urbino (FIMA). He holds masterclasses in institutions worldwide such as Conservatoire de musique du Québecin Montréal and Tafelmusik (Canada). He teaches in Italy in various Conservatories for over 10 years.