Bach, Dracula, Vivaldi & Co.

Four "concerti grossi": the embodiment of joyous music making. Four journeys into the past to link a modern musical language with characteristic aspects of Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and – fancifully abstruse – the historical figure of Dracula. Everything is tongue-in-cheek, but artfully assembled and full of sly double meanings.

The Concerto "Bach-Metamorphosen" [Concerto "Bach Metamorphoses"] not only plays with the famous four notes B-A-C-H, but also shares the radicalism and non-compromising nature of Bach’s aesthetic principles.

"Omaggio a Vivaldi" was commissioned by the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra for the recorder soloist Stefan Temmingh, who performed the premiere in Potsdam with the Brandenburg Symphony in 2011. This Homage was written not only to honor the famous Baroque compositional genius from Venice, who was known throughout Europe and significantly influenced Bach, it is also a celebration of craziness and a manic work ethic!

"Vivaldissimo" is performed quite often and has established itself in the trumpet repertoire. The work combines the thrill of virtuoso motoric movement with a post-modern mixture of contrasting styles.

"Draculissimo. Concerto grosso" deals with the historical figure of Dracula, the brutal Count Vlad III (Draculea) of Wallachia.