Month: February 2020

J.S. Bach’s Time at the Collegium Musicum

 

 

Based in Minnesota, Michael “Mike” Antonello collects fine art and has performed with multiple orchestras as a violinist. Michael J Antonello has been a featured soloist with groups such as Milano Classica and has played works by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Bach.

In 1729, Johann Sebastian Bach was given a director position at Collegium Musicum, a private society founded by Georg Phillip Telemann. The society enabled university students with a strong interest in music to interact, share ideas pertinent to music, and hone their musical skills. Twice a week, they performed two-hour concerts in a local coffeehouse. It is likely that Bach violin concertos were performed during those sessions.

Prior to joining the , Bach already had written a series of church cantatas. However, in the new setting, Bach demonstrated unquenchable joyfulness and an overwhelming sense of vitality in his violin concertos. Joining the Collegium Musicum also likely enabled Bach to become well-acquainted with concertos by Antonio Vivaldi, including The Seasons. Bach also dedicated time studying and transcribing many other composers’ music.

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The Long Road to Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

A featured soloist with the Erato Chamber Orchestra of Chicago, Michael J Antonello studied violin at the Interlachen Arts Academy in Michigan. A patron of the fine arts, Michael “Mike” Antonello has recorded 18 classical CDs and performed classical music by a variety of composers, including Glazunov and Tchaikovsky.

Prior to writing his violin concerto, Tchaikovsky traveled across Europe, including stops in Paris and Italy, with the support of his friend and benefactress, Nadezhdah Von Meek. Along with violinist Losif Kotek, Tchaikovsky played through one of Lalo’s violin concertos, titled Symphoniè Espagnole, in Switzerland.

In 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote the concerto, which Kotek refused to premiere. This disagreement resulted in the pair parting ways. Tchaikovsky rededicated it to violinist Leopold Auer, who also rejected it due to its score. Tchaikovsky, once again, rededicated his concerto, this time to violinist Adolf Brodsky, who eventually premiered it in Vienna.

To read more, visit https://michaelantonello.com/home