La Vaghezza performs work by forgotten composer Salomone Rossi

In this intimately shot video, members of La Vaghezza perform Sinfonia 9 (primo libro) by Jewish composer Salomone Rossi (1570-1630).

As well as a composer, Rossi was a violinist alongside Claudio Monteverdi in Mantua, leading the orchestra for many of Monteverdi’s premieres. He was the first to compose contemporary-styled pieces to Hebrew texts and also pioneered the trio sonata genre that was becoming fashionable across Europe during the 17th century.

Italian period-instrument ensemble La Vaghezza comprises violinists Mayah Kadish and  Ignacio Ramal, cellist Anastasia Baraviera, Gianluca Geremia on theorbo and Marco Crosetto on organ. The work features from the ensemble’s debut album Sculpting the Fabric, which was released on Ambronay Editions, Outhere Music in 2021.

The recording producer, balance engineer and editor was Christoph Frommen, with video by Cesare Mangiocavallo.

La Vaghezza will feature as part of Vache Baroque’s ’Rossi 400’ project. The multi-event project will celebrate 400 years since Salomone Rossi published his collection ‘The Songs of Solomon’ in 1623. On Wednesday 13 December 2023, the Vache Baroque Singers and La Vaghezza, along with director Jonathan Darbourne, Kate Conway on viol and Kristiina Watt on lute and theorbo, will present a programme of vocal and instrumental music by Salomone Rossi and his contemporaries in a programme entitled ‘A Baroque Hannukah’. The concert will take place at St John’s Smith Square. More information can be found here: sjss.org.uk/events/baroque-hanukkah 

Playing

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Teaching

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.