Baroque ensemble travels to Italy

By Nathan Woo,
Bluedevilhub.com Editor–

Members of the Davis High baroque ensemble went to Italy for ten days over the summer to perform and to sight-see. The ensemble was invited to perform at the American Celebration of Music, so they traveled to Italy to play baroque music–a style that originated in Italy.

The American Celebration of Music in Italy is a concert and music festival created in order to allow American performers to share their musical culture and their versions of Italian works with Italian audiences. The belief that the Italian culture has influenced Western art creates a craving for Italy to experience the Western culture as well.

The ensemble played their first concert in Cremona, which is famously known as one of the most popular cities for luthiers, or instrument makers.

“Our first concert was in a church circa 1400. We played Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, Bach’s Orchestral Suite no. 1, Summer from Vivaldi’s four seasons, the Bach Double Violin concerto, and Vivaldi’s La Follia variations,” junior Duncan Muir said.

“It was a lot of fun to play in all these ancient cathedrals, and it was really interesting to learn about the architecture and history of such a beautiful place,” senior Linda Li said. The ensemble visited places such as the Roman Arena and Juliet’s house in Verona, St. Mark’s Square and Palace of the Doges in Venice.

One of the ensemble’s concerts was held in Rome, where they were able to see the Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement.

“We were invited by the mayor of a small hillside town called Palestrina to play a concert,”  Muir said. While in Rome, the ensemble was invited to Palestrina to perform for their last concert.