Maurice Steger & friends @ Stadtcasino Basel: Vivaldi, Corelli, Leo, Telemann & Fiorenza

A warm welcome to a Baroque feast for the senses! Tonight’s program will transport you to the glittering metropolises and hidden music archives of the 18th century. Under the direction of recorder virtuoso Maurice Steger, a top-tier ensemble of distinguished musicians has come together. Together, they breathe new life into a program brimming with virtuosity, Italian flair, and intimate chamber music.

An Italian Cosmos: Corelli and His Heirs | At the heart of the evening is the forefather of the Italian Baroque style: Arcangelo Corelli. His groundbreaking compositions were so popular that contemporaries embellished them and arranged them for larger ensembles. Right at the start, you’ll experience the Concerto No. 8 in G minor (Op. 5) from the famous Manchester Manuscript. The richly ornamented upper voice unfolds over the warm foundation provided by Fred Walter Uhlig (violone) and Céline Pasche(baroque harp), while the colorful orchestration flows from the pen of Francesco Geminiani. The concert comes full circle with Corelli’s Sonata in G Major, in which the historical ornamentations form a fascinating testament to the art of Baroque improvisation.

Sunny Naples and Fiery Spain | In his Concerto in G major, the Neapolitan master Leonardo Leo makes the flautino—the sparkling little recorder—sing and dance in a harmonious interplay with the two Baroque violinists Eva Saladin and Katharina Heutjer. This cheerfulness is contrasted by the dramatic Concerto in A minor by Nicolò Fiorenza, whose eccentric style and emotional depth reveal the wild side of Naples.

The harpsichord offers a dazzling solo excursion to the Iberian Peninsula with the rousing Variaciones del fandango español by Máximo López. With rhythmic finesse and Baroque splendor, Irene Roldan perfectly captures the southern spirit here.

Masterful Dialogues: Telemann and Vivaldi | Even outside Italy, people were captivated by the spirit of the South. In his Concerto in A Major, Georg Philipp Telemann once again demonstrates his skill in combining French elegance with Italian verve. At the heart of this piece is the dialogic interplay with the viola da gamba, masterfully brought to life by Hille Perl.

No Baroque evening with Italian esprit would be complete without Antonio Vivaldi. His Sonata No. 12 in D minor, “La Follia”, is among the most thrilling works the era has produced. Over the tirelessly repeated bass pattern, Eva Saladinand Katharina Heutjer on the violins unleash a veritable frenzy of variations that builds from melancholic beauty to virtuosic ecstasy.

Experience the perfectly coordinated ensemble playing of Maurice Steger & Friends—a celebration of historical performance practice, captivating joy of playing, and magical communication.