Orphan orchestra

CENTURIES before legendary bands like the Beatles, ABBA and U2 existed the hottest band in Europe didn’t play in arenas; it played behind a modesty screen, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra artistic director Paul Dyer says.

We take a trip back to the 18th century and head to an institution in Venice for orphaned and illegitimate girls, where the great Vivaldi transformed his disadvantaged students into elite musicians. At the time they were the toast of the music circuit. However, it was not considered appropriate for women to perform in public, so these virtuosos played their concerts hidden away from their spellbound audience.

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra will be paying tribute to Vivaldi and his gifted students with Venice Secrets in its first series for 2012. The concert is said to showcase the virtuosos of the Brandenburg the home of Australia’s finest baroque musicians, as they bring to life the music played by these young women, who are now iconic performers in music history.

“The girls must have been extraordinarily talented musicians to play these technically demanding concertos,” Dyer said. “Vivaldi wrote a massive amount of music and so much of it is rarely heard today. It is not surprising to discover that this great composer wrote more than 500 concertos.”

Meanwhile, Italy’s Federico Guglielmo, who is the winner of the Antonio Vivaldi International Recording Prize and the Diapson d’Or, has been invited to be a guest director and soloist for Venice Secrets.

“The audience and orchestra love his powerful, vibrant and passionate music making,” Dyer said.

The show will also feature soloists Brendan Joyce on baroque violin, Jamie Hey and Anthea Cottee on baroque chello, Kirsten Barry and Adam Masters on baroque oboe, Melissa Farrow and Mikaela Oberg on baroque flute and recorder, Darryl Poulsen and Doree Dixon on natural horn, Peter Moore on baroque bassoon, as well as a solo from Brian Nixon on the timpani.

Vivaldi’s concerto for two violins, 2 oboes, 2 recorders and bassoon in G minor, RV577

For more information about performances near you visit www.brandenburg.com.au