Ensemble Locatelli’s Season 2025 continues: the appointment is dedicated to the fascinating repertoire of Luigi Boccherini, exploring the deep interconnection between the music and the atmosphere of 18th-century Madrid.
The May appointment of Season 2025 is dedicated to the fascinating repertoire of Luigi Boccherini, with a special focus on the Quintets Op. 39. This musical event aims to explore the deep interconnection between music and the atmosphere of 18th-century Madrid, a time when Boccherini lived and created his most famous works.
Boccherini, a native of Lucca but strongly influenced by Spanish culture, was able to translate the vibrant nightlife of the Spanish capital into his compositions. The Quintets Op. 39 represent a sublime example of his ability to combine elegance and passion, through melodies that evoke the enchantment of Madrid’s streets, illuminated by moonlight and enlivened by convivial encounters.
During the concert, Ensemble Locatelli will perform a selection of pieces that not only highlight Boccherini’s compositional mastery, but also the richness of his instrumental writing. The intricate harmonies and musical dialogues between the different instruments will create an enthralling experience, capable of transporting the listener on a unique sonic journey.
Regarded as one of the fathers of the classical style, Boccherini opened up new frontiers to cellist virtuosity, helping to elevate his instrument to the rank of prince of melodies on a par with the violin and piano, in fact anticipating the great attention this instrument would enjoy in the Romantic era.
Program:
– Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Night Music of the Streets of Madrid – Quintettino VI, Op.30 No.6, G.324 (1780)
– Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): String Quintet, Op.39 No.2, G.337 (1780)
– Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Quintet for Strings, Op.39 No.3, G.338 (1780)
Ensemble Locatelli
Thomas Chigioni: cello, direction
Photo credit: Gianfranco Rota