In this episode of Talking Bach, Artistic Director Madeleine Easton takes listeners on a journey through The Art of Violin—a sweeping exploration of the instrument’s origins, evolution, and enduring allure. From the medieval rabab and rebec to the golden age of Cremonese violin-making, Madeleine traces how the violin rose to prominence as the most expressive and beloved instrument in Western music.

Along the way, she highlights the great composers and virtuosi who shaped its voice—Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Paganini, Kreisler, and many more—revealing how performers and composers worked hand in hand to expand the violin’s technical and emotional possibilities. With vivid historical insights, musical examples, and reflections on performance, this episode celebrates the artistry of both violin makers and violinists, and the timeless music they brought into the world

In this episode of Talking Bach, Artistic Director Madeleine Easton is joined by violinists Simone Slattery and Rafael Font to explore The Art of Violin—a program that delves into the origins, evolution, and expressive power of the violin during the Baroque period. Together, they discuss the enduring fascination with this singular instrument, tracing its journey from its earliest incarnations to the virtuosic solo works of Vivaldi, Leclair, Handel, Telemann, and J.S. Bach.

Through personal stories, historical insights, and reflections on performance practice, this conversation offers a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and creativity of Baroque composers who redefined the violin’s potential. With works that feel like musical time travel, the episode celebrates the violin’s unique voice and its place at the heart of Western music’s past, present, and future.

In this episode of Talking Bach, Artistic Director Madeleine Easton is joined by soprano Susannah Lawergren and principal flautist Mikaela Oberg to discuss the “Class of ’85.” The odds are slim that three musicians of global significance could be born in the same year, but in 1685, that’s exactly what happened. Domenico Scarlatti, Georg Frideric Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach—known as the Class of ’85—have had an overwhelming and enduring influence on music.

This program features Handel’s rich Concerto Grosso in B-flat major, Op. 6 No. 7; Domenico Scarlatti’s Salve Regina, performed by mezzo-soprano Hannah Fraser; and J.S. Bach’s magnificent secular cantata Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209, featuring soprano Susannah Lawergren. Together, these works celebrate the supreme craftsmanship, versatility, and imagination of these three titans of Western classical music.