Souvenirs

It was a sensation when, in 2020, the 63rd volume of the Vivaldi Edition - a project that, more than any other, has helped to strengthen the Venetian's reputation as one of the most influential and prolific composers of the 18th century - featured a French violinist for the first time in the illustrious line-up of violin soloists assembled there. Julien Chauvin, born in Fontainebleau, and his ensemble, Le Concert de la Loge, founded in 2015, released an album featuring a selection of concertos with a special affinity for the world of theater. The album quickly received two prestigious awards, the «Diapason d'Or» and a «BBC Music Magazine Choice.»

Chauvin and his musicians will perform a sample from this album in the magnificent grand hall of the Innsbruck Hofburg. However, the concert will primarily showcase works from their second recently released album, which features additional violin concertos by the «Red Priest» Vivaldi. The recording, which has already been awarded a «Choc de Classica», consists of works that were either (subsequently) dedicated to the virtuoso and Vivaldi contemporary Johann Georg Pisendel or given to him for transcription and re-performance in the Electoral Saxon and Royal Polish Dresden - musical souvenirs, if you will. In order not to fall into the <bad habit> of making predictions about future concerts, we can only predict two things in view of our «souvenirs»: Firstly, that the French also understand <their Vivaldi> very well, and secondly, that - when, as here, solo part and ensemble direction are in one and the same hands - energies of rare intensity are generated.