The Printemps des Arts in Monaco turned its focus to the evolution of the concerto with two performances held on March 26 and 27 at the Auditorium Rainier III…
The concerts, led by violinist Stéphane Rossi alongside the ensemble Les Ambassadeurs – La Grande Écurie, explored how musical forms and instruments developed over time, shaping the language of composers.
The programme opened with works linked to the Bach family, highlighting a transitional moment in musical history. Through compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach’s sons, audiences were offered insight into how a new generation of composers moved away from established traditions, introducing fresh ideas such as dynamic contrasts and evolving keyboard techniques. This shift reflected a broader transformation in musical expression during the period.
The second part of the concerts turned to Mozart, with pianist Olga Pashchenko performing one of his piano concertos. The programme illustrated Mozart’s role as a composer of synthesis, drawing on existing musical styles while developing a strong sense of structure and dramatic tension within the concerto form.
Across both evenings, the performances underscored the festival’s wider theme of exploring the relationship between composers and the instruments available to them. By tracing the journey from Baroque to Classical repertoire, the concerts highlighted how innovation in both composition and instrumentation contributed to the rise of the concerto as a central genre in Western music.
Image: Manuel Vitali