Captain Vivaldi's Mandolin — Visiting the Mezzo Ensemble

The brilliant, charismatic sound of the mandolin has been an integral part of Italy’s musical landscape from the 18th century to the present day. Alongside its important role in chamber and amateur music, this instrument inspired concertos by the era’s greatest masters, including Antonio Vivaldi, one of the most outstanding composers of the late Italian Baroque.

The Mezzo Ensemble invites listeners to meet mandolin virtuoso Shmuel Elbaz and soprano Yaela Avital. At the heart of the program is a subtle and multifaceted dialogue between the mandolin, the human voice, and Baroque instruments.

Alongside concertos by Antonio Vivaldi and cantatas by Alessandro Scarlatti, instrumental and vocal works from Italy and neighboring musical traditions will be performed, spanning the Renaissance to the late Baroque. Some compositions will appear in new arrangements that reveal the richness of the colors, virtuoso flexibility, radiant sound, and unique character of the mandolin.

For all events of the Mezzo Ensemble