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Café Zimmermann pays tribute to Gottfried Van Swieten with works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Mozart and Haydn. Van Swieten was a passionate arts patron who played a key role in the evolution of music of the 18th century as the waning days of the Baroque era gave way to the dawning Classical period..
Musical direction, Pablo Valetti
Karel Valter, flute
Pablo Valetti, violin
David Plantier, violin
Peter Biely, viola
Ludovico Minasi, cello
Davide Nava, double bass
Céline Frisch, harpsichord
C.P.E. Bach | Symphony in G Major
Wq 182/1
J.S. Bach | Prelude & Fugue in F sharp minor
from the “Well-Tempered Clavier” BWV 883
W.A. Mozart | Flute Quartet Nr. 1 in D Major
KV 285
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W.A.Mozart | Adagio & Fugue
KV 404a, transcription for strings of the Fugue in F sharp minor BWV 883 of J.S. Bach
J. Haydn | Symphony Nr. 104 “London”
arr. by J.P. Salomon
Who was this man was who introduced the young Mozart to the works of the great Johann Sebastian Bach?
Baron Gottfried Van Swieten was one of the most influential patrons of the arts in the 18th century, and more than anything, a passionate music lover. In addition to providing considerable financial support, the Dutch diplomat played an essential role in the musical development of the times.
As librarian to the imperial court in Vienna, Van Swieten facilitated access for the precocious Mozart to J.S. Bach's works, thus helping usher in a new musical era. In 1773, he commissioned a collection of six symphonies from Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, inviting the composer to give free rein to his imagination, without any technical constraints nor any particular need to please.
Van Swieten, who was very close to Haydn as well, played an active role in the development of “The Seasons” and “The Creation” by translating the texts. Further, he was an enlightened witness to the transcription of major symphonic works for smaller ensembles, as with Johann Peter Salomon's arrangement of the London Symphony.
This concert is supported by SPEDIDAM.
