On the Move: Italian Style Beyond Borders

SoHIP opens our 40th season with the debut of Nova Vetera. Their program juxtaposes two Italian Baroque composers whose travels, fame, and (mis)fortune played a crucial role in the dissemination of Italian style throughout Europe. Pietro Locatelli’s life and work encouraged a radical exploration of the Italian violin style’s technical and expressive possibilities—past Italian borders his work became a strong influence, particularly on the development of the virtuosic French violin school. Johann Rosenmüller’s move was markedly shaped by his scandalous exile from Germany. Forging a distinctive synthesis of foreign and native musical elements, he helped shape an Italianate turn in German composition upon his ultimate return. Both exemplify how musical migration shaped the European landscape, allowing their native or adopted styles to take root beyond borders.

Nova Vetera:
Nate Kim, violin
Thomas Conrad, traverso, viol
Luping Robyn Xu, harpsichord