Listening to music from the 17th and 18th centuries today is an ambiguous experience. On the one hand, it is music that captures our attention immediately, stirring our emotions with the ease of a master key. On the other, it transports us to a distant era, steeped in symbolism that we are unable to interpret. Both aspects contribute to the fascination of this repertoire, which is all the greater when it comes to pieces with which we are familiar, as is the case with the concertos by Arcangelo Corelli and Francesco Geminiani. This is informal, relaxed music, suited just as much to the aristocratic gatherings of the time as to the social gatherings of our own era. In particular, the Concerto Grosso Fatto per la Notte di Natale is perfectly suited to this time of year. It was composed to celebrate Christmas 1690 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
Christmas Concert
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
A. Corelli Sinfonia from the Oratorio *Santa Beatrice d’Este*
A. Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6/3
A. CorelliConcerto Grosso Op. 6/11
A. CorelliConcerto Grosso Op. 6/8, *Fatto per la Notte di Natale*
F. Geminiani Concerto Grosso No. 10 (based on Corelli’s Violin Sonata Op. 5/10)
F. Geminiani Concerto Grosso No. 12, La Folia (based on Corelli’s Violin Sonata Op. 5/12)
