This is a unique opportunity to hear this range of five different instruments., one after the other. The performance is, of course, accompanied by explanation and fascinating anecdotes about the history of the cello. The instruments are:
Forqueray La Mandoline (viol) D.Gabrielli Ricercar (bass violin) JS Bach Bourrees from Suite no 3 (baroque cello) JS Bach Sarabande and Gavottes from Suite no 6 (5-stringed cello) Boccherini Rondo (classical cello) Kodaly Solo sonata, last movement
A Hungarian Evening
Music combined with a lovely goulash! (provided by the promoter)
Kodaly Solo Sonata Op 8
Full of gypsy influences, this passionate and haunting work explores a wide range of rhythmic and tonal special effects and is one of the greatest works for the cello.
With a pianist, this may be combined with works by other Hungarians such as Bartok, Ligeti, Veress, Dohnanyi, or for a little more variety with Bach's Solo sonata no 6 in D major.
Played on a five-stringed copy of an Amati cello, this has an unexpected tone quality, perhaps more like a viol - and the addition of the fifth string changes the technical challenges to produce a completely different result from the other suites.
Bach
Any or all of the six suites. There is so much variety within this music; the haunting darkness of Suite no. 5, the nobility of Suite no 3, the reflective qualities in no. 2, the expansiveness of no. 4 or the well-loved no. 1.
For a lunchtime concert, choose two. For an evening concert choose three.
For an all day event: Coffee - Suite no 1 in G major Talk Lunch Performance: Suite no 2 in D minor Suite no 6 in D major Masterclass Evening meal Evening performance: Suite no 4 in E flat Suite no 5 in C minor Suite no 3 in C major
Duo Programmes with Piano or Harpsichord
A Mixed Bag
A varied selection of current repertoire.
Birds and Bees
Cassado Requiebros Bach Suite no 2 in D minor Faure Papillon Popper Papillon Beethoven Sonata Op 102 no 1 in C major Casals Song of the Birds Rimsky Korsakov Flight of the Bumblebee Martinu Variations on a them of Rossini
Beethoven Cycle
Suitable for festivals, using a fortepiano provided by the pianist:
3 lunchtime concerts comprising one set of variations and one sonata 1 evening concert comprising two sonatas for piano and cello and one piano sonata.
Baroque Cello Recital - a duo programme with harpsichord
Be surprised by the variety of sounds in this programme: soaring melodies, pinprick staccato, harmonics and true virtuosity:
Eccles Sonata no. 11 in G minor Bach Suite no 1 in G major BWV1007 Abel Harpsichord Pieces Vivaldi Sonata no 5 in E minor Sammartini Sonata in G major Couperin Pieces en Concert Locatelli Sonata in D major
Chamber Music Programmes (www.redpriest.com) The top three programmes are currently in circulation. CDs are available from the Red Priest website. Truly, Madly Baroque
A programme of absolute favourites, including the Pachelbel Canon and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no 5.
The Baroque Bohemians
A gypsy confection, created mostly by Adam Summerhayes, using themes from the baroque. A very exciting evening!
Handel in the Wind
This all Handel programme features selections from the Messiah, arranged in a programmatic way by Angela.
Nightmare in Venice
Magical, mysterious, fantastical – a theatrical presentation of some of the most extraordinary chamber music of the baroque era, featuring Vivaldi's Nightmare Concerto, Tartini's Devil's Trill sonata, Masque music by Robert Johnson, Gluck's Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Leclair's Demon Airs and Red Priest's own Fantasia on Corelli's La Follia. A must for Halloween!
Pirates of the Baroque
Stolen masterworks and forgotten jewels of the baroque era performed with swashbuckling virtuosity! This hugely popular programme includes Vivaldi's Tempesta di Mare Concerto, a Pirate Suite by Couperin, the 'Albinoni' Adagio and works by Bach, Tartini, Simonetti, Leclair, Vitali and Handel. Roll over, Johnny Depp...
Johann, I'm Only Dancing!
A dynamic presentation of music by the greatest genius of the baroque era, Johann Sebastian Bach, performed with this ensemble’s legendary blend of creativity, wit and virtuosity. Surprising juxtapositions of familiar and lesser known works are presented in a mixed garden of delights, freely drawn from the flute, oboe and violin sonatas, cello suites, keyboard suites and toccatas, orchestral suites and concertos; the programme includes some of the most sublime adagios ever composed, and culminates in an epic performance of the great Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Red Priest’s arrangements are inspired by Bach’s own improvisatory zeal, and the light-hearted title (stolen from a David Bowie song) reflects the infectious spirit of dance which pervades much of Bach’s music.
Carnival of the Seasons
Vivaldi's Four Seasons as you have never heard them before! Red Priest employs a dazzling array of baroque ‘affects’ and theatrical effects to bring these pieces vividly to life. Piers Adams has adapted the violin solo part to his plethora of recorders, occasionally even playing two at once, and acting out the roles of sleeping shepherds, drunken harvesters, chirruping birds and skating children as he plays. The concertos are interspersed with a variety of seasonal pieces by Biber, Corelli, Purcell and Van Eyck.
The Red Priest And The Virgin
A festive, colourful and occasionally irreverent programme of baroque music for Christmas, featuring Corelli's Christmas Concerto, Vivaldi's Winter, Van Eyck's variations on Unto us a Boy is Born, Byrd's The Bells and music by Handel, Bach, Telemann and Festing.
Priest on the Run
The inimitable Red Priest makes a lightning tour across Baroque Europe, hotly pursued by the Venetian authorities... Music encountered along the way includes Vivaldi (Concerto in D RV92), Schmelzer (The Cuckoo Sonata), Telemann (Gypsy Sonata in A mnor) and Castello (Sonata Terza).
Special Gala Programme:
The Red Hot Baroque Show A startling marriage of baroque instruments with modern sound and lighting technology. Red Priest's performance is brought whirling into into the 21st century in a special show designed for theatres and large venues, complete with stage set, lighting design, sound system and special effects. A true crossover event which brings the excitement of baroque music to a wide new audience. The development of the show was the subject of a TV documentary for the South Bank Show in 2005.