The Carlos Machado Museum and the Quadrivium - Artistic Association present the final concert of the "Classics at the Museum" season, with the Sinfonietta of Ponta Delgada, in "Baroque Music for Strings."

The concert will take place at the Sacred Art Center (Igreja do Colégio) on November 24, at 5:00 PM.

The partnership with Quadrivium – Artistic Association has explored different musical genres, performing with various ensembles and a diverse range of guest conductors.

For the final concert, the Sinfonietta of Ponta Delgada, under the baton of its conductor, Amâncio Cabral, embraces the origins of musical composition for string ensembles. It is the ideal program to inaugurate the Christmas season, with the musical baroque masterpiece in the baroque setting of the Church of the Jesuit College. Orchestral string music by the indispensable Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Vivaldi.

Baroque music for string orchestra is one of the most emblematic forms of composition from the Baroque period (approximately 1600–1750). During this era, composers developed complex musical structures rich in ornamentation, exploring the expressiveness and versatility of strings.

This music is characterized by contrapuntal textures, where several independent melodic lines intertwine. Melodies are adorned with trills, mordents, and other ornaments, which were often improvised by musicians.

Even today, baroque music for string orchestra remains one of the most important in the history of music, admired for its structural complexity, expressive richness, and melodic beauty.

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) is a central figure in Baroque music and, in particular, in music for string orchestra. Known as the "Red Priest" due to his ordination as a priest and his red hair, Vivaldi left an impressive legacy, with over 500 concertos and numerous orchestral works that continue to influence classical music. A master of both the solo concerto and the concerto grosso forms, both essential in baroque string orchestra music, he helped establish the three-movement model (fast-slow-fast), which became standard in Baroque and later concertos.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is one of the greatest composers of Baroque music and of Western music history. His contribution to music for string orchestra is invaluable. Bach combined contrapuntal complexity, deep expressiveness, and technical mastery to create some of the most iconic works in the Baroque repertoire. It is no exaggeration to say that J.S. Bach elevated music for string orchestra to a level of artistic and technical perfection that remains unmatched. His compositions not only synthesize the Baroque style but continue to serve as universal inspiration.

This concert is a production of Quadrivium – Artistic Association, with the support of Direção Geral das Artes and the Government of the Azores.