The Baroque Ensemble of Nice presented at the Lascaris Palace in Nice the programming of its new season. This season aims to continue the ensemble’s work around early music, while proposing some different formats.
The new season is under the theme of eternal youth. To choose the theme, Gilbert Bezzina, founder and musical director of the ensemble, draws on a quote from Michel Portal: “I am always happy to play music as if I were ten years old.” A phrase that echoes the violinist’s desire to maintain a living approach to early music.
Gilbert Bezzina reflects on his discovery of Bach in adolescence, which led him to become interested in historical practices and instruments. An approach that remains at the heart of his work: “My work is to rediscover this soul, and this way of playing”, he explains.
A “double concert” in February
Among the new features announced this season, the Ensemble will present on February 12 a format presented as a “double concert”. The evening will bring together violinists Gilbert Bezzina and Laura Corolla, around several sonatas by different composers.
The objective is to compare different compositional styles and approaches to chamber music repertoire in the same program.
The season will begin on September 9 at 8 p.m. at the Church of Saint-François-de-Paule, with a program dedicated to the Italian concerto grosso.
This choice echoes the history of the Ensemble. Gilbert Bezzina recalls that its beginnings are notably linked to this repertoire. At the time, he had been asked to organize several concerts around the concerto grosso. “What interested me above all was to play, to play concerto grosso”, he recounts.
Projects around transmission
The presentation of the season also provided an opportunity to address the question of access to culture and renewal of audiences. The idea of a culture that comes “from below” was notably raised during exchanges with the cultural delegate of Nice, Auguste Verola.
The new season of the Baroque Ensemble of Nice will continue with several events in Nice and in various locations. After this first preview presented at the Lascaris Palace, here is the complete season’s programming, with the concerts and works scheduled by the Baroque Ensemble of Nice:
- – Friday, October 9: A. SCARLATTI CONCERTOS GROSSOS OP.4 (COMPLETE) at the Church of Saint-François-de-Paule, Nice
- – Friday, November 13: J.S. BACH CONCERTOS FOR TWO HARPSICHORDS at the Church of Saint-François-de-Paule, Nice
- – Friday, December 11: G.F. HANDEL TRIO SONATAS OP. 2 (COMPLETE) at the Church of Saint-Martin – Saint-Augustin, Nice
- – Friday, January 15: THE CELLO – THE UNKNOWN MASTERS at the Church of Saint-Martin – Saint-Augustin, Nice
- – Friday, February 12: J.S. BACH E. YSAŸE SONATAS FOR SOLO VIOLIN at the Church of Saint-Martin – Saint-Augustin, Nice
- – Friday, March 19: DOLCE FOLLIA THE HOSTEL DIEU CONCERT at the Church of Saint-Martin – Saint-Augustin, Nice
- – Friday, April 16: J.P. RAMEAU CONCERT PIECES (COMPLETE) at the Church of Saint-Martin – Saint-Augustin, Nice
- – Friday, May 28: M.-A. CHARPENTIER F. COUPERIN LESSONS OF DARKNESS at the Church of Saint-François-de-Paule, Nice.
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