A deep longing for something unattainable and distant—what instrument could express this feeling better than the viola with its sublime, warm sound? The feeling of longing in all its shades will accompany the audience throughout the entire concert program with the I TEMPI chamber orchestra.
The concert opens with the two songs “If my complaints could passions move” and “Flow my tears” (also known as “Lachrymae”) by the Renaissance composer John Dowland (1563-1626), in a version for viola and strings. In these songs, Dowland addresses the pain of disappointed love. These are contrasted with “Lachrymae, Reflections on a Song of Dowland” by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) for solo viola and strings. Britten “reflects” these two Dowland songs in 10 variations. Another moving piece for viola and strings is the “Elegy” by the Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881). It was composed by Vieuxtemps as a tribute to his late friend, the violinist Charles de Bériot.
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) accompanied the nighttime love scene of Jessica and Lorenzo in the moonlit garden with the enchanting Nocturne from the incidental music of “Shylock.” With these delicately shimmering string sounds, I TEMPI begins the second part of the concert. The brilliant finale is Antonín Dvořák's (1841-1904) Serenade in E major. This rightly popular jewel of the literature for string orchestra is a touching synthesis of Czech folk music and romanticism and impresses with its colorfulness and brilliant compositional ideas.
Tickets are CHF 30-65 for adults and CHF 10 for students.

Website
itempi.com/musikdersehnsucht

Where
Martinskirche
Martinskirchplatz 4
4051 Basel

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