Greek violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos, alongside the Apollon Ensemble, is scheduled to present four of Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos in Taiwan on Wednesday, October 16.
Kavakos founded The Apollon Ensemble in 2022, bringing together a group of award-winning Greek musicians. The ensemble’s inaugural tour in Asia began this October.
The concert, titled “Kavakos, The Apollon Ensemble & Bach,” will feature a selection of Bach’s violin concertos. The sequence of pieces performed will differ from the ensemble’s recorded interpretation.
In the first half of the concert, audiences can expect to hear the “Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041,” the “Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042,” and the “Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV 1056R.” The performance will conclude with the most intricate and complex work of the set, the “Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052R,” in the second half.
Kavakos highlighted that the concert hall experience is a multi-sensory journey shaped by the sound system, visuals, atmosphere, and audience reactions. This is why the complex “D minor concerto” was selected to close the performance.
In a recent interview, Kavakos expressed his enthusiasm about returning to Taiwan, noting that the pandemic had forced the cancellation of his previous performance, which makes this visit even more significant.
He explained that the ensemble’s performance style—one musician per part—resembles playing a concerto solo on a keyboard instrument. This approach means each musical line is played by a single musician.
While concertos were generally composed for larger ensembles, Kavakos pointed out that performances during Bach’s time often mirrored this soloistic style. This method allows each part to have equal importance, providing the pieces with greater individuality and freedom of expression.
Leonidas Kavakos is renowned for his flawless technique, engaging performances, and profound musicality. He frequently collaborates with the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra, performing globally.
The Apollon Ensemble consists of talented musicians, including violinists Noe Inui and Alexandros Sakaleros, violist Ilias Livieratos, cellist Timotheos Petrin, double bassist Michalis Semsis, and harpsichordist Iason Marmaras. The ensemble has performed several times in Greece and made a successful debut at the Golden Hall in Vienna earlier this year.
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