ASO Musicians Perform Works of Bach, Vivaldi and Piazzolla
Posted Feb 16, 2022 | ASO News, Events, Press Releases,
Alexandria, VA— The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present a special chamber orchestra concert Brandenburg, Vivaldi & Tango on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria. Under the direction of Music Director James Ross, members of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will present music by Bach, Vivaldi and Piazzolla.
The ASO will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 with principals from the orchestra as soloists. The concerto features two violas and several period instruments, including a harpsichord. Bach composed the six concertos as a pseudo-job application as a demonstration of his finest work, and they are still regarded as some of the foremost orchestral compositions from the Baroque era.
Also on the program, Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe, where both instruments are featured and closely entangled. Both himself an accomplished violinist and the master of solo concerti, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins is worthy of its dedication to royalty, and attendees will discover why it bears the title of “Harmonic Inspiration.” (Bach was inspired by Vivaldi’s concerto and arranged the piece for harpsichord in a different key.) Likewise, Vivaldi’s beloved Four Seasons was the inspiration for Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The audience will enjoy the tango-infused “Summer” and “Spring” movements from Piazzolla’s suite.
“Bach wrote the best dance music of his time, and Astor Piazzolla, the tango king, is positively Baroque in his music’s adaptability and finely chiseled flourishes,” says Maestro Ross. “Every piece on this program features multiple soloists in an embodiment of democratic values and lively conversation. And with our performance of the sixth concerto, the ASO has now completed its first cycle through the Brandenburgs—these unlikely masterworks. I can’t wait to start the next pass!”
Audience members, musicians, staff, and volunteers are required to wear a mask while inside the venue and during performances. ASO recommends N95-style masks for maximum protection; a limited supply will be available. ASO is also requiring all attendees, musicians, volunteers and staff be fully-vaccinated, including a booster, if applicable. ASO will communicate with ticket buyers well in advance of the performance to establish what specific safety measures will be required to attend.
