1727: Season of the Violin

1727, Cremona. In a quiet workshop in northern Italy, Antonio Stradivari completes one of the final instruments of his long career. Even in old age, his violins set a standard that players and makers will pursue for centuries.

This programme traces the rise of the violin from modest dance instrument to the defining voice of classical music. Alongside makers such as Stradivari, composer‑performers including Corelli, Tartini and Vivaldi develop new techniques and new forms, shaping the evolution of the concerto. As instruments improve and virtuosity increases, the solo violinist emerges as a commanding musical presence.

Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new BBC Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For Episodes 9 to 16, Gillian welcomes Suzannah Lipscomb to help her explore the fascinating stories and rich sound worlds of the Late Renaissance and Baroque.

Producer: Zerlina Vulliamy
Contributor: Joshua Bell
Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford
Story Consultant: Kate Leys
Series Editor for BBC Audio: Emma Harding
Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan.

MUSIC DETAILS
Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E major, RV269 “Spring” – iii. Allegro
Rachel Podger (violin)
Brecon Baroque

Antonio Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in G minor, RV315 “Summer” – iii. Presto
Théotime Langlois de Swarte (violin)
Le Consort

Giuseppe Tartini: Violin Sonata in G minor “Devil’s Trill”
Joshua Bell (violin)
John Constable (harpsichord)

Arcangelo Corelli: Concerto Grosso No. 8 “Christmas Concerto”
Amandine Beyer (violin)
Gli Incogniti

Giuseppe Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D major – i. Allegro
Alison Balsom (trumpet)
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Thomas Klug (conductor)

Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte for Strings
Chaos String Quartet
BBC recording

Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Winter (RV297)
Adrian Chandler (violin)
La Serenissima

Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor – iii. Finale
Nicola Benedetti (violin)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiří Bělohlávek (conductor)

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