reviewvancouver: Early Music Vancouver - Summer Festival 2024 - Bach Untamed - BachandMandolin

I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Bach & Mandolin featuring works by Bach, Vivaldi, Barbella, and Weiner. The evening was an absolute delight, held at the Playhouse in Vancouver.

The Pacific Baroque Orchestra, under the expert direction of Alexander Weimann, delivered another spellbinding performance. The standout for me was Alon Sariel on mandolin, whose virtuosity brought a fresh and vibrant energy to the evening.

The program was thoughtfully curated, centred around Bach’s "Italian Concerto" and a reconstruction of this concerto by Amit Weiner (2019). This modern take on a classic piece was both respectful and innovative, offering a new perspective on Bach’s timeless music. The remainder of the program explored exquisite Neapolitan repertoire for mandolin and orchestra, highlighting the rich tradition of Italian music that influenced Bach himself. Vivaldi’s works, which Johann Sebastian Bach famously transcribed, added an additional layer of historical depth and musical richness to the evening.

The apres-concert chat at 7pm with Alon Sariel and Alexander Weimann, hosted by Suzie LeBlanc, was an engaging and informative start to the night. It provided wonderful insights into the music and the artists’ interpretations, enriching the overall experience.

The particularly joyous highlight was seeing Alon Sariel, the 2024 EMV Artist in Residence, who concluded the evening with a stunning solo on the mandolin. His performance of a Spanish piece was both intimate and captivating. Sariel played the mandolin with incredible versatility throughout the evening—at times with tender delicacy, and at others with the intensity of an electric guitar. The intimacy of his last piece felt soothing to the nervous system, providing a beautiful and calming end to what was already a great week of Baroque music reimagined.

Overall, my experience with Bach & the Mandolin was revitalizing. The combination of masterful musicianship and a beautifully curated program made for an unforgettable evening. I highly recommend this concert to anyone looking to explore the rich interplay between Bach and the Italian musical tradition.