Philomel Baroque Orchestra
classical
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If you think you have heard Vivaldi's best-known work, Four Seasons, one too many times, think again. The Philomel Baroque Orchestra plays this music, which is as familiar as anything in the baroque repertoire, with a vivacity and sparkle that stands apart. There are a number of factors that make this rendition break out from the routine. The most obvious is the use of period instruments, which is, of course, central to the mission of Philomel, Philadelphia's venerable original-instrument pioneer. As widespread as period instrument performance has become, this music in particular is still mostly heard in modern garb, mainly because it is so beloved by superstar violinists. But Philomel also delivers a freshness of approach in matters of tempo (bracing) and texture (X-ray clear), finding a lithe soundscape that makes the music sound new and adventuresome in surprising ways. The soloist for these performances will once again be Nancy Wilson, one of our best baroque violinists, and a longtime collaborator with Philomel.
Fri., Nov. 24, 8 p.m., Christ Church, Second and Market sts.; Sat., Nov. 25, 8 p.m., St. Paul's Church, 301 N. Main St., Doylestown; Sun., Nov. 26, The Church of St. Martin in the Fields, 8000 St. Martin's Lane, 4 p.m., $25-$40, 215-487-2344, www.philomel.org.
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