Philharmonia Chamber Players: Bach, Stravinsky & Piazzolla

Violinist Adrián Varela leads a string quartet in fugues and chorales by JS Bach, Stravinsky’s Concertino and Piazzolla’s suite Punta del Este.
The intricate four-part fugue that opens Bach’s masterpiece The Art of Fugue also opens this evening’s performance – hear the instruments weave across each other as each of the four melodic lines is brought out in turn.
Following two tender chorales, enjoy music by two later composers whose music builds on Bach’s legacy. Stravinsky’s rhythmically charged Concertino for String Quartet packs a kaleidoscope of colours into just eight minutes of music, while violinist Adrián Varela presents his own arrangement of one of Astor Piazzolla’s richest orchestral works. Named after a Uruguayan holiday resort where Piazzolla spent many fondly-remembered summers, the Suite Punta del Este combines Piazzolla’s tango heritage with his love of Baroque and classical forms.

Programme

JS Bach
Contrapunctus 1, Canon per augmentationem in contrario motu from The Art of Fugue
Chorale, Aus meines Herzens Grunde, BWV.269
Chorale-prelude, Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, BWV.638
Stravinsky Concertino for string quartet
Piazzolla Suite Punta del Este arr. Adrian Varela for string quartet

Performers

Adrián Varela violin
Jan Regulski violin
Gijs Kramers viola
Eric Villeminey cello