Art of the Mandolin

Avi Avital’s programme spans four centuries of mandolin history to show the art that his instrument has inspired. He opens his Wigmore Hall Residency with an engrossing selection of original works and arrangements, including Paul Ben-Haim’s pulsating Sonata a tre and Death is a Friend of Ours, a surprisingly uplifting work specially written for Avi Avital which celebrates the joy of being alive.

Programme:

D. Scarlatti Sonata in D minor K90 (for mandolin and basso continuo)
HW Henze Carillon, Récitatif, Masque (for mandolin, guitar and harp)
A. Vivaldi Trio Sonata in C RV82 (transcribed for mandolin and basso continuo)
M. Ravel Alborada del gracioso (for mandolin, guitar and harp) (arranged by Jonathan Keren)
P. Ben-Haim Sonata a tre for mandolin, guitar and harpsichord
L. van Beethoven Adagio for mandolin and harp in E flat WoO. 43b
A. Vivaldi Trio Sonata in G minor RV85 (transcribed for mandolin and basso continuo)
D. Bruce Death is a Friend of Ours (for mandolin, harp, harpsichord, theorbo and guitar)

Performers:

Avi Avital - mandolin, Artist in Residence
Anneleen Lenaerts - harp
Lukasz Kuropaczewski - guitar
Ophira Zakai - theorbo
Alexander von Heißen - harpsichord