Timeless Bach (Ensemble Dissonance, Sergej Krylov)

Johann Sebastian Bach is a towering figure in the musical history of the last two centuries, with his works seen by many as the realised ideal of formal and spiritual perfection. Among the works that reveal the breadth of his creative range are two violin concertos believed to have been composed in Köthen or somewhat later in Leipzig. The Violin Concerto in A minor clearly reflects the influence of Vivaldi in its propulsive rhythms and formal design, while the Violin Concerto in E major treats the Italian model with greater freedom. Between the two comes Schnittke’s Violin Sonata No. 1, an early work written in the serial style, which at times looks back with irony to the Baroque tradition. The programme ends with the Italian composer Ezio Bosso’s Esoconcerto, a work directly inspired by Bach’s approach to composition.

The Ensemble Dissonance is increasingly establishing itself as one of the most versatile and adventurous chamber ensembles in the country. Its members, drawn from Slovenia’s leading orchestras and teaching institutions, focus on creating programmes that, through thoughtful dialogues between stylistic periods, open up new perspectives for listeners. The ensemble performs regularly across Slovenia, organises its own chamber series and collaborates with numerous renowned composers and soloists. For this concert the ensemble is joined by the Russian violinist and conductor Sergej Krylov, a musician with a notably broad repertoire who since 2008 has been music director of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, with which he regularly appears in the dual role of soloist and conductor, performing music ranging from the Baroque to contemporary works.