IL GIARDINO ARMONICO

Il Giardino Armonico conducted by Giovanni Antonini presents a program alternating Antonio Vivaldi with Joseph Haydn. This stimulating comparison of styles exalts the quality of the Italian composer’s timbre and interpretation.
Vivaldi’s two concertos will be played by the talented Russian violinist Dmitry Smirnov, who has won prestigious international competitions, and is widely appreciated as a soloist.
The unusual title of the Concerto RV 208 “Grosso Mogul” does not actually allude to oriental atmospheres, but boasts moments of striking virtuosismo, a feature the Venetian composer liked to use in some of his most significant works.
The atmosphere is different in Haydn’s two symphonies: composed in 1771-2 they belong to the composer’s so-called Sturm und Drang period. Written for the Esterhàzy orchestra, Symphony no.52 dates from a stage of experiment and research, which subsequently evolved into the ‘classical’ form typical of the composer’s maturity as a composer.  His Symphony no.44 “Trauer” is one of the best known and frequently performed.  Apparently he wanted the Adagio to be played at his funeral.
The Giardino Armonico is widely known as one of the outstanding early music ensembles. They use authentic period instruments and Giovanni Antonini is appreciated as a conductor by various prestigious orchestras.  In 2014 Antonini set up a project, together with Il Giardino Armonico, to perform and record ex novo the whole Joseph Haydn catalogue by 2032, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the composer’s birth.