Arcangelo Corelli

(1653 - 1713)

Arcangelo Corelli - Prague Classical ConcertsArcangelo Corelli (February 17, 1653 - January 8, 1713) was a composer, pivotal figure of the Baroque period, and one of the most influential violinists of all time. Born in Fusignano, he studied in nearby Bologna and after 1675 lived in Rome. There, his patrons included Queen Christina of Sweden and, after 1690, the art patron Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. Corelli was the most widely published and reprinted composer before the Franz Joseph Haydn; he was also the first composer to gain an international reputation solely on the basis of his instrumental music. Many elements of his style became commonplace in the 18th century, and his works are early examples of the newly evolved system of major and minor tonality. As the preeminent violin virtuoso of the day, he taught many leading violinist-composers of the 18th century.

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He gained success early, traveling throughout France, Germany, and Italy, establishing his reputation as a virtuoso. His legacy is, however, the influence his works, especially the Op. 5 trio sonatas, had on composers such as Francesco Geminiani (sonatas Op. 1, 1716), Pietro Locatelli, Francesco Mária Veracini, Giuseppe Tartini and many others.

Corelli's affect on the development of violin playing, first via his students, such as Geminiani and Locatelli, and then via his legacy on to Italian violinists of succeeding generations, such as Giovanni Battista Viotti and eventually Niccolò Paganini, is hard to overstate. Though he used only a limited palate of instrumental effects, his playing and compositions were marked by extraordinary melodic flow, and accompanying voices are more integrated and follow less strictly the "rules" of counterpoint in favor of musicality.

Corelli composed 48 trio sonatas, 12 violin sonatas, and 12 concerti grossi. Six published sets are authentically attributed to Corelli, along with a few unpublished works.

Upcoming classical concerts of the composer's music in Prague:

  • Dec 9 Saturday
    Christmas Concert in Smetana Hall

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Dec 10 Sunday
    Christmas in Old Prague

    Time: 15:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 10 Sunday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 12 Tuesday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 14 Thursday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 15 Friday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 16 Saturday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 16 Saturday
    Christmas in Old Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 17 Sunday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 18 Monday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 19 Tuesday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 20 Wednesday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 20 Wednesday
    Christmas in Old Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 22 Friday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 22 Friday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 24 Sunday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 24 Sunday
    Christmas Concert in Smetana Hall

    Time: 17:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Dec 25 Monday
    Christmas Concert at Prague Castle

    Time: 16:30
    Prague Castle, St. George's Basilica

  • Dec 25 Monday
    Christmas Concert in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Dec 25 Monday
    Winter's Harmonies: A Christmas Concert of Corelli, Mozart, and Vivaldi

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall