Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
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20090120090330Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli. He reveals how Corelli's immense reputation rests on a relatively small collection of six publications, with just a handful of accounts about his brilliant playing.

Concerto grosso in D, Op 6 No 7 (opening)

Brandenburg Consort

Roy Goodman (director)

Hyperion CDA667412, CD2 Trs 1-2

Sonata in D, Op 5 No 1

Andrew Manze (violin)

Richard Egarr (harpsichord)

Harmonia Mundi HMU90729899, Trs 1-5

Concerto grosso in F, Op 6 No 12

Hyperion CDA667412, CD2 Trs 30-34

Sonata in A minor, Op 4 No 5

Purcell Quartet

Chandos CHAN0692, CD4 Trs 17-20

Sonata in F (arr of Op 5 No 4)

Han Tol (recorder)

David Mings (baroque bassoon)

Patrick Ayrton (harpsichord)

Globe GLO5094, Trs 6-9

Sonata in G, Op 1 No 9

Monica Huggett, Alison Bury (violins)

Jaap Ter Linden (cello)

Hopkinson Smith (theorbo)

Ton Koopman (organ)

Philips 4166142, Trs 1-5.

Donald Macleod discusses the basis on which Corelli's reputation was built.

20090220090331Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli. He tells the story of Corelli's first years in Rome, where he begins to find his feet among the musical glitterati in Europe's grandest cultural capital.

Sonata in E, Op 5 No 11

Locatelli Trio:

Elizabeth Wallfisch (violin)

Paul Nicholson (harpsichord)

Richard Tunnicliffe (cello)

Hyperion CDA663812, CD2 Trs 18-22

Sonata in A minor, Op 3 No 12

London Baroque

Harmonia Mundi HMC90134445, CD2 Trs 45-49

Sonata in E minor, Op 5 No 8

Barthold Kuijken (transverse flute)

Wieland Kuijken (cello)

Robert Kohnen (harpsichord)

Accent ACC9177D, Trs 1-4

Sonata, Op 1 No 3

Members of the English Concert

Archiv 4196142, Tr 5

Corelli: Concerto grosso, Op 6 No 6

Ensemble 415

Chiara Banchini, Jesper Christensen (directors)

Harmonia Mundi HMC90140607, CD2 Trs 9-12.

Donald Macleod follows Corelli to Rome, where he begins to make his mark as a rising star.

20090320090401Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli. He discovers how, although Corelli has established himself as Rome's hottest musical property, the 'affair of the fifths' threatens to ruin his hard-won reputation.

Sonata, Op 1 No 1

Accademia Bizantina:

Carlo Chiarappa (violin)

Franco Andrini (violin)

Mauro Valli (cello)

Romano Valentini (organ)

Paolo Cherici (archlute)

Europa Musica 350202, CD1 Trs 1-4

Sonata, Op 2 No 4

London Baroque:

Ingrid Seifert, Richard Gwilt (violins)

Charles Medlam (cello)

Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord)

Harmonia Mundi HMC90134243, CD1, Trs 12-16

Sonata, Op 2 No 3

Purcell Quartet

Chandos CHAN0692, CD2 Trs 8-11

Sonata, Op 3 No 1 (arr. Roland Gallery)

English Guitar Quartet

Saydisc CDSDL386, Trs 9-12

Sonata in G, Op 3 No 6

Ensemble Aurora

Enrico Gatti (director)

Arcana A402, CD1 Trs 9-12

Concerto grosso, Op 6 No 5

Brandenburg Consort

Roy Goodman (director)

Hyperion CDA667412, CD1 Trs 21-25.

Donald Macleod discovers how a musical row disturbed Corelli's famous equilibrium.

20090420090402Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli. He describes how the compser is taken on by one of Rome's most flamboyant cultural celebrities, the young and extremely weathly Cardinal Ottoboni, who becomes his lifelong employer and personal friend.

Sinfonia in D minor, WoO 1

Accademia Bizantina

Carlo Chiarappa (director)

Europa Musica 350202, CD9 Trs 1-5

Sonata in D, Op 4 No 4

London Baroque:

Ingrid Seifert, Richard Gwilt (violins)

Charles Medlam (cello)

Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord)

Harmonia Mundi HMC90134243, CD2 Trs 13-16

Concerto grosso, Op 6 No 8 (Christmas Concerto)

English Concert

Trevor Pinnock (director)

Archiv 4236262, CD2 Trs 7-12

Sonata IV in F (arr. Schickhardt after Concerti grossi 1 and 2)

Hugo Reyne, Sebastien Marq (recorders)

Pierre Hantai (harpsichord)

Danny Bond (bassoon)

Rainer Zipperling (cello)

Opus OPS549118, Trs 15-18

Sonata, Op 5 No 3

Purcell Quartet

Hyperion CDA 66226, Trs 5-9.

Donald Macleod explores how Corelli was taken on by one of Rome's cultural celebrities.

200905 LAST20090403Donald Macleod explores the life and music of the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli. He describes how Corelli planned to crown his stellar career with a final collection of Concerti grossi, but his sudden death led to a battle over the proceeds of this guaranteed bestseller.

Sonata, Op 4 No 12

Monica Huggett (violin)

Alison Bury (violin)

Jaap ter Linden (cello)

Hopkinson Smith (theorbo)

Ton Koopman (harpsichord)

Philips 4166142, Trs 26-28

Concerto grosso, Op 6 No 3

Ensemble 415

Chiara Banchini, Jesper Christensen (director)

Harmonia Mundi HMC90140607, CD1 Trs 14-15

Sonata in D for trumpet, two violins and continuo

Stephen Keavy (trumpet)

Parley of Instruments

Hyperion CDA 66255, Trs 33-37

Concerto grosso, Op 6 No 10

English Concert

Trevor Pinnock (conductor)

Archiv 4236262, CD2 Trs 19-24

Sonata, Op 5 No 12 (La Folia)

Andrew Manze (violin)

Richard Egarr (harpsichord)

Harmonia Mundi HMU90729899, CD1 Tr 23.

Donald Macleod reveals how Corelli's best friend scrabbled to cash in following his death.

201901Corelli, The European Phenomenon2019122320210816 (R3)Donald Macleod delves into the international successes of Arcangelo Corelli.

Arcangelo Corelli was something of a European phenomenon not only during his lifetime, but also after his death. His compositional output was not large, but the development of the printing press enabled his music to be widely circulated. Musically, he bridged the gap between the Baroque and the Classical periods, and is seen as pivotal in the development of the sonata and the concerto. Even today, Corelli's music is held in high esteem, with composers still inspired by his music. As a violinist he was also legendary, and people flocked from all over Europe to not only hear him play, but to also be taught by him. Corelli spent most of his career in Rome, maintained in some luxury by royalty, nobility and the Church. During his career he collaborated with many other composers including Alessandro Scarlatti and Handel. Despite his fame and continued popularity, we still know relatively little about Corelli, and this Composer of the Week series seeks to explore the man and his music through his personal and professional relationships.

In this programme, Donald Macleod explores those relationships that propelled Corelli to being something of a European phenomenon. The writer on music Charles Burney thought that Corelli's fame came from his music being so pure, rich and graceful, and that it withstood the test of time. Corelli's fame initially originated with his ability as a violinist, and this attracted over time a stream of international students. With the evolution of the printing press, Corelli's music would also bolster his reputation, with not only copies being produced in Italy, but also Amsterdam, Antwerp and London. Publishers fought over printing music by Corelli, disagreeing over whose publication was more authentic. Myths would grow and surround Corelli, all adding to his celebrity status.

Sonata in G minor, Op 4 No 2 (Corrente)

London Baroque

Concerto Grossi, Op 6 No 3

The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

Jean Lamon, director

Sonata in G, Op 1 No 9

Monica Huggett, violin

Alison Bury, violin

Jaap Ter Linden, cello

Hopkinson Smith, theorbo

Ton Koopman, harpsichord

La Resurrezione (Ho un non so che nel cor)

Nancy Argenta (Maddalena), soprano

The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra

Ton Koopman, director

Sonata in F major, Op 5 No 10

The Avison Ensemble

Concerto Grosso in D, Op 6 No 1

The English Concert

Trevor Pinnock, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Corelli's international successes.

201902Corelli And The Aristocracy2019122420210817 (R3)Donald Macleod explores Arcangelo Corelli's relationships with the nobility and crowned heads.

Arcangelo Corelli was something of a European phenomenon not only during his lifetime, but also after his death. His compositional output was not large, but the development of the printing press enabled his music to be widely circulated. Musically, he bridged the gap between the Baroque and the Classical periods, and is seen as pivotal in the development of the sonata and the concerto. Even today, Corelli's music is held in high esteem, with composers still inspired by his music. As a violinist he was also legendary, and people flocked from all over Europe to not only hear him play, but to also be taught by him. Corelli spent most of his career in Rome, maintained in some luxury by royalty, nobility and the Church. During his career he collaborated with many other composers including Alessandro Scarlatti and Handel. Despite his fame and continued popularity, we still know relatively little about Corelli, and this Composer of the Week series seeks to explore the man and his music through his personal and professional relationships.

In this programme, Donald Macleod journeys through the many relationships Corelli had with nobles and royals, ranging from the eccentric Queen Christina of Sweden and the Electress Sofia Carlotta of Brandenburg, to Duke Francesco d'Este of Modena and the King of Naples. Corelli was fortunate to be employed by the nobility, to the extent that he would often receive offers from different aristocrats. They tried to poach Corelli from one another, wanting to secure the services of the famed Corelli for themselves.

Fuga con un soggetto solo

London Baroque

Dan Laurin, director

Sonata in G minor, Op 5 No 5

Andrew Manze, violin

Richard Egarr, harpsichord

Sonata in F, Op 1 No 1

The Avison Ensemble

Sonata in A minor, Op 1 No 4

Sonata in B minor, Op 3 No 4

Monica Huggett, violin

Alison Bury, violin

Jaap Ter Linden, cello

Hopkinson Smith, theorbo

Ton Koopman, harpsichord

Sonata in F minor, Op 3 No 9

Concerto Grosso in F, Op 6 No 12

The English Concert

Trevor Pinnock, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod delves into Corelli's relationships with the nobility and royalty.

201903Corelli's Religious Patrons2019122520210818 (R3)Donald Macleod traces Arcangelo Corelli's relationship with princes of the Roman Catholic Church.

Arcangelo Corelli was something of a European phenomenon not only during his lifetime, but also after his death. His compositional output was not large, but the development of the printing press enabled his music to be widely circulated. Musically, he bridged the gap between the Baroque and the Classical periods, and is seen as pivotal in the development of the sonata and the concerto. Even today, Corelli's music is held in high esteem, with composers still inspired by his music. As a violinist he was also legendary, and people flocked from all over Europe to not only hear him play, but to also be taught by him. Corelli spent most of his career in Rome, maintained in some luxury by royalty, nobility and the Church. During his career he collaborated with many other composers including Alessandro Scarlatti and Handel. Despite his fame and continued popularity, we still know relatively little about Corelli, and this Composer of the Week series seeks to explore the man and his music through his personal and professional relationships.

In this programme, Donald Macleod delves into the opportunities open to Corelli through his relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. Two of his more prominent patrons were Cardinal Pamphili and Cardinal Ottoboni. Corelli was employed in sequence by these two cardinals, and was held in high esteem. He not only composed music for them, but was able to live in their palaces in some splendour, often writing incidental music for their private theatres and annual festivities.

Sonata in D

Helmut Hunger, trumpet

I Solisti Veneti

Claudio Scimone, director

Sonata in B major, Op 2 No 5

London Baroque

Sonata in E flat major, Op 2 No 11

Sinfonia to Santa Beatrice d'Este in D minor, WoO1

La Serenissima

Adrian Chandler, director

Concerto in G minor, Op 6 No 8 (Christmas Concerto)

The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

Jean Lamon, director

Sonata in C, Op 5 No 9

Michala Petri, recorder

George Malcolm, harpsichord

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Corelli's relationship with the Church.

201904Corelli's Contemporaries2019122620210819 (R3)Donald Macleod traces the relationship between Arcangelo Corelli and his musical contemporaries.

Arcangelo Corelli was something of a European phenomenon not only during his lifetime, but also after his death. His compositional output was not large, but the development of the printing press enabled his music to be widely circulated. Musically, he bridged the gap between the Baroque and the Classical periods, and is seen as pivotal in the development of the sonata and the concerto. Even today, Corelli's music is held in high esteem, with composers still inspired by his music. As a violinist he was also legendary, and people flocked from all over Europe to not only hear him play, but to also be taught by him. Corelli spent most of his career in Rome, maintained in some luxury by royalty, nobility and the Church. During his career he collaborated with many other composers including Alessandro Scarlatti and Handel. Despite his fame and continued popularity, we still know relatively little about Corelli, and this Composer of the Week series seeks to explore the man and his music through his personal and professional relationships.

In this programme, Donald Macleod discovers more details about Corelli's life and character through his relationship with other composers. Including stories of Alessandro Scarlatti's jealousy over Corelli's exulted position in Rome and Handel's visit with the great master, made when he travelled to Rome as a young man. Handel not only composed music based on some of Corelli's own themes but also probably composed a violin concerto for Corelli to play.

Sonata in A minor, op 4 No 5

London Baroque

Sonata in B minor, op 4 No 12

Sonata in C, Op 2 No 3

The Avison Ensemble

Pavlo Beznosiuk, director

Sonata in F major, Op 2 No 7

Sonata a 5, HWV288 (Violin Concerto in B flat)

Academy of Ancient Music

Richard Egarr, director

Sonata in G minor WoO2

La Stagione

Michael Schneider, director

Corelli Arr. J. C. Schickhardt

Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 3

Le Concert Francais

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod explores Corelli and his contemporaries.

201905 LASTCorelli And His Followers2019122720210820 (R3)Donald Macleod explores the Arcangelo Corelli craze after the composer's death.

Arcangelo Corelli was something of a European phenomenon not only during his lifetime, but also after his death. His compositional output was not large, but the development of the printing press enabled his music to be widely circulated. Musically, he bridged the gap between the Baroque and the Classical periods, and is seen as pivotal in the development of the sonata and the concerto. Even today, Corelli's music is held in high esteem, with composers still inspired by his music. As a violinist he was also legendary, and people flocked from all over Europe to not only hear him play, but to also be taught by him. Corelli spent most of his career in Rome, maintained in some luxury by royalty, nobility and the Church. During his career he collaborated with many other composers including Alessandro Scarlatti and Handel. Despite his fame and continued popularity, we still know relatively little about Corelli, and this Composer of the Week series seeks to explore the man and his music through his personal and professional relationships.

In this final programme, Donald Macleod explores the craze for the music of Corelli after the composer's death. He was held in such high esteem that not only was he buried in the Pantheon near the painter Raphael, but also yearly recitals of his music were held there before the tomb. Composers like Couperin tried to emulate Corelli and the Italian style, and Locatelli would claim to be in direct musical lineage. Others took works by Corelli and tried to capitalise upon their popularity by embellishing them further in print. In modern times, Tippett and Rachmaninov have paid musical homage to Corelli, by creating variations on themes by the great master.

Sonata No 2 in D minor, Op 2 No 2

London Baroque

Concerto Grosso in F, Op 6 No 2

The Brandenburg Consort

Roy Goodman, director

Corelli Arr. Geminiani

Concerto Grosso VII in D minor

Academy of Ancient Music

Andrew Manze, director

Sonata in D minor, Op 5 No 12 (Follia)

Andrew Manze, violin

Richard Egarr, harpsichord

Concerto Grosso in F, Op 6 No 9

The English Concert

Trevor Pinnock, director

Produced by Luke Whitlock, for BBC Wales

Donald Macleod delves into the Corelli craze.