Recital: Rudolf Balàzs – baroque violin

The Programme

Rudolf Balàzs – baroque violin

‘The Voice of the Violin’

from the Der Fluyten Lust-Hof, Amsterdam 1644
Prelude and Comagain

from XII Fantasie per il Violino senza Basso, Hamburg 1735
Largo

from Uitnemend Kabinet, Amsterdam 1649
Lachrimae Pavaen

from Violin Partita II in D minor, Köthen 1720
Allemande

from Selva de varii passaggi, Milan 1620
Vestiva i colli (after Palestrina)

Southampton, 2023
Nova Scotia

In the early sixteenth century the violin began its remarkable history. Just as the human voice, the violin offers an endless palette of sound and expression. The voice of the violin was changed constantly in response to new ideas of beauty. Historical violinist Rudolf Balázs offers a ‘sound tasting’ journey through the many colours of ‘The Voice of the Violin’.

The Artist

Rudolf Balàzs, artistic director of Winchester Baroque, is a London based Hungarian violinist born in Budapest of a musical family. After his classical violin training in Budapest, he began his studies in the Early Music department at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Leipzig with Professor Susanne Scholz. In 2018 Rudolf was awarded his MMus Music (Performance, Musicology, Pedagogy) under the guidance of eminent early music pioneer Elizabeth Kenny and baroque violin teacher Caroline Balding at the University of Southampton.

He appears regularly with fine English and continental ensembles including The Hanover Band, The Sarabande Consort, Orchestra Barocca Lorenzo da Ponte, the Welsh Baroque Orchestra, Barock Orchester Harmonia dell’Arcadia Bamberg, Ensemble OrQuesta, Musica Poetica, Endelianta Baroque and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. Rudolf is also concert master of ‘The Reutter Project’ in Hungary, re-discovering compositions by Austrian composer, Johann Georg Reutter (1708-1772). His interests and research stretches from 15th century polyphony through early baroque instrumental diminution to contemporary avant-garde fusion music. Rudolf plays a baroque violin made in 1727 in Klingenthal, Germany.

Introduction by Dr Birgitta Huse – Social Anthropologist and researcher Birgitta is part of Winchester Baroque’s regulars. Birgitta has worked as an author and publisher, lecturer at universities, in concept development and as trainer in child and adult education. She brings her joyful approach to invite our audiences to partake in musical experiences, inspiring to connect.
Commentary by Daen Palma Huse – Art historian, writer, curator and researcher, Daen holds an MA degree from University College London in History of Art and an MA from Goldsmiths in Art & Politics. Daen is the Editor and Co-Founder of The Protagonist Magazine. He has collaborated with the National Portrait Gallery, The Wallace Collection, Leighton House Museum, and Leica Gallery West Hollywood.