Causeway Chamber Orchestra - By Royal Appointment

About

Join the Causeway Chamber Orchestra as we discover the lesser-played masterworks of the 'Enlightenment era.' Our 2nd season takes us from the exciting and novel concept of public concert series with the Concert Spirituel to the high and most important royal courts of late-Baroque Europe in our By Royal Appointment concert. Accompanied by the rising talent today and led by the orchestra's founder Luca J. Imperiale, the CCO promise to deliver an unforgettable evening.

Franois-Joseph Gossec, a pivotal figure in French music before the Revolution, made his name with brilliant and forward-looking orchestral works. His Symphony in E-flat major is a bold and energetic piece, filled with stirring rhythms and vibrant harmonies, offering a glimpse of the grandeur that would define the later Classical style.

Carl Heinrich Graun, best known for his operatic compositions at the Prussian court, also excelled in instrumental music. His Bassoon Concerto in C major is a delightful and elegant work, showcasing both the lyrical and agile qualities of the instrument. Janice Chui joins the CCO as soloist, bringing virtuosity and charm to this rarely-heard gem.

The elegance of the Viennese court is captured perfectly in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts Serenata Notturna, K.239, a serenade full of wit, grace, and ceremonial sparkle. Scored for strings and timpani, this music would have accompanied grand outdoor festivities, blending refined charm with lively brilliance.

The concert concludes with a work by Carl Friedrich Abel, a former gamba virtuoso at the London court and a key figure in the transition from the Baroque to the Classical style. His Symphony in E-flat major is notable for its clarity, elegance, and effortless melodic invention, qualities that endeared him to royal audiences and fellow composers alike.

By Royal Appointment promises an evening of regal splendour, musical refinement, and lively brilliance, celebrating composers who shaped the soundscape of Europes royal courts.