From the Dresden court to Les Tuileries central pavilion, concerts featuring the traverso became venues for the highest level of artistry. In Paris Michael Blavet brought the flute into a place of prominence at the Concert Spirituel, the first public concert series in France. Our program features Kim Pineda, traverso, in one quartet by each of the composers celebrated in this program. Johann Joachim Quantz was also a flute virtuoso and composer. As instructor for Frederick the Great, Quantz was called upon to produce a prodigious number of compositions for his master, but his quartets contradict any association with the gallant “Berlin Style.” They are instead masterpieces of counterpoint for four independent voices. Telemann’s “Paris” quartets were written at the invitation of Blavet and other virtuosi at the Concert Sprituel, and were regarded as some of Telemann’s most frequently performed works.

Our program opens with Telemann’s A Minor ‘Paris’ quartet, followed by sonatas by Blavet (Op. 3 #5), LeClair (Op 3 #7), and Barrière (Op4 #1), a trio sonata by LeClair (Op 8) and concludes with Telemann’s A Major ‘Paris’ quartet. Performers are Kim Pineda, traverso, Michael Sand, baroque violin, Marc Vanscheeuwijck, ‘cello, Ann Shaffer, viola da gamba, Sarah Pyle, traverso and Margret Gries, harpsichord.

Tickets and more information at https://www.oregonbachcollegium.org/current-season/#concert7