Nicola Benedetti’s Foundation Announces Baroque Virtual Sessions

Open to musicians of all ages and levels of playing, this inaugural program will be hosted by Benedetti, guest artists, and international Baroque specialists from July 5-25, 2021

The Baroque Virtual Sessions will include baroque performances, lessons by top professionals, and opportunities to perform baroque music.

Along with Nicola Benedetti, the internationally acclaimed Baroque performers and educators leading the masterclasses and sessions include violinists Rachel Podger, Kati Debretzeni, Maggie Faultless, Michael Gurevich and Andrea Marcon; violists Clifton Harrison and Becky Jones; cellists Luise Buchberger, Sarah McMahon, Robin Michael, and David Watkin; double bassist Nikta Nuamov; and lutists Thomas Dunford and Liz Kenny.

The program will focus on two arrangements of Corelli’s "La Folia," one specially arranged for all members. The other is Geminiani’s original arrangement of the piece for conservatoire students and professional players. Participants will learn this work and have the choice to record their parts which will be produced remotely into a final celebratory concert premiering on August 1, 2021.

"As we hopefully emerge from this long period of closed doors, we want to bring an experience full of love and fun and excitement,” said Benedetti. "Italian Baroque music does this to the fullest and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to playing this repertoire to a live audience and teaching its magic to our participants."

"I’ve long believed that Baroque music, in general, is an untapped secret for the world of collective and community music-making and occupies an odd place in our formative years of learning instrumental music,” she continues.

"We have so much more to learn from the energetic and revolutionary advancements in baroque interpretation. We can approach these works in ways that inspire fun and enjoyment, a greater sense of togetherness and community, a true abandonment of caution, and an embracing of scratches and scrapes and unapologetic flair."

For more information, click here. To apply, visit here.  

The release of Benedetti’s first baroque album on Decca Classics, "Baroque," features Geminiani’s "La Folia" Variations, will be streaming on July 16 during Baroque Virtual Sessions.