In Vitro & B'Rock . Eduardo López Banzo

Twenty years ago nobody would have predicted that Antonio Vivaldi's image would undergo such a rapid and profound transformation. During the latter part of the last century, Vivaldi was highly esteemed and became famous for having composed virtuoso concertos; twenty years later it became clear that he was primarily a vocal composer, author of a whole host of fantastic, colourful operas. 'La Senna Festeggiante' is a semi-opera, a serenata commissioned to honour the French Ambassador in Venice and King Louis XV. In Vitro (Daphne Kitschen and Jan Dekeyser) invent their own contemporary setting and stage design for 'The Festive Seine River' where water plays a key role. Led by the fiery Eduardo López Banzo, B'Rock is once again able to re-establish its reputation as the exciting flame in Flanders' early music scene. Given that the ensemble, singers and conductor begin rehearsals at the end of August in deSingel and premiere the piece at the Utrecht Festival of Early Music, they should be in fine fettle when they return to deSingel.