Metamorfosi

The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's quest to reanimate the historical Renaissance style in their paintings in the mid-19th century might have stimulated the similar movement in the musical world less than a century later. Similarly to these British painters, different composers at the beginning of the 20th century searched for new inspiration in music from earlier centuries, looking for an aesthetic long past to be rediscovered and implemented in their own works. This movement was to become one of the epitomes of metamorphosis in music history.

This exciting, eclectic and colourful new programme of Oxalys in collaboration with Israeli lutenist and mandolinist Alon Sariel confronts original works from the Renaissance and Baroque eras with their counterparts of several 20th century composers:
Igor Stravinsky counts among the most influential names of this neoclassical movement, his ballet Pulcinella (1920) being considered the first full neoclassical composition. Stravinsky wrote: "It was a backward look, of course—the first of many love affairs in that direction—but it was a look in the mirror, too." His Italian contemporary Ottorino Respighi dared this look in the mirror as well and has studied the ancient compositional techniques in depth. This resulted in wonderful works such as Gli Uccelli (The Birds), a Baroque paraphrase for cembalo, and the Antiche arie e danze per liuto, three orchestra suites based on old lute music. The Belgian violin master Eugène Ysaÿe, turned to J.S. Bach and opened his second violin sonata (1923) with references to Bach's third violin partita.

Alon Sariel & Oxalys invite you to experience Renaissance and Baroque music through the eyes of the 20th century masters!

Chamber music ensemble Oxalys with Shirly Laub (violin), Frédéric d’Ursel (violin), Anton Van Durme (violin), William Adji (violin), Elisabeth Smalt (viola), Han Bin Yoon (cello) and Koenraad Hofman (double bass)
Guest: Alon Sariel (mandolin/lute)