Europa Galante: A fresh take on old favorites at McCarter

By Stephen Raskauskas, 08 February 2012

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Reviewed at McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton on 31 January 2012

Brioschi, Sinfonia in D major

Handel, Rodrigo HWV 5: orchestral suite

Vivaldi, The Four Seasons (Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione), Op.8 no. 1-4

Fabio Biondi, Conductor

Europa Galante

Disappointing outing for Scarlatti in the Halle Handel Festival

Sandra Bowdler, 13th June

Scarlatti's oratorio proves a rather disappointing outing for Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante, not helped by the venue's acoustics.

**111

For the finale in Valtice, a Vivaldi feast from Europa Galante

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

Fabio Biondi and his Europe Galante players offer an enlightening look at the last chapter in the composer's career.

****1

A remarkable rendition of Handel’s Silla at the Enescu Festival

Edward Sava-Segal, 5th September

Europa Galante's musicians’ collective expertise in playing music of the 17th and 18th centuries is indisputable and was in full display once again in Bucharest.

****1

Fabio Biondi's Vivaldi puts Mozart in the shade in LA

Laurence Vittes, 9th January

In Fabio Biondi's hands Vivaldi's big violin concertos clearly surpass Mozart in mature power and beauty and rival Bach in imagination and emotional richness.

*****

Biondi's Baroque adventure: L'Oracolo in Messenia

Charlotte Valori, 20th February

An exceptional mood of teamwork and virtuosity combine to ensure Fabio Biondi's reconstructed pasticcio of Vivaldi's lost L'oracolo in Messenia is an intense, disorientatingly beautiful evening of breathtaking musicianship.

*****

Adriano in Siria in Madrid

Fernando Remiro, 26th January

Interesting rediscovery of Veracini's first opera, composed for mythical castrati Senesino and Farinelly, and brought to life again by Fabio Biondi and Europa Galante.

***11

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Stephen Raskauskas

Stephen Raskauskas is passionate about the performing arts. As a performer, he has collaborated on productions acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and Huffington Post. He has received numerous fellowships and awards, and holds degrees in music from the University of Chicago and Princeton University.