Bizarrerie

Van Diemen’s Band

Bizarrerie

Van Diemen’s Band invites you to discover some of the weird and wonderful instruments of the Baroque, in our long-awaited Devonport debut!

Bizarrerie puts the spotlight on some of the rare and unusual instruments from the Band’s collection.

Program highlights include Vivaldi’s Concerto for Lute and Viola d’Amore in D minor, showcasing the haunting, bell-like tones of the six-stringed viola d’amore, while Fasch’s Concerto for Gallichon gives this almost-forgotten instrument—a gut-strung hybrid that sits somewhere between a lute and a bass guitar—its moment in the spotlight.

Also taking centre stage will be our brand-new piccolo violin (nicknamed “Niccolo the Piccolo”) crafted by Nipaluna luthier Douglas Coghill and showcased with a movement from Jabra Latham’s being-written-as-we-speak Concerto for Piccolo Violin.

With our cornucopia of extraordinary instruments played by extraordinary musicians, the Band itself will be on display in Francesco Durante’s Concerto in A Major “La Pazzia”.

Whether you’re a Baroque enthusiast or just curious about music history’s more eccentric corners, Bizarrerie offers the chance to experience the Baroque era’s spirit of innovation and experimentation— brought to life with VDB’s signature blend of “performances of the highest calibre and an infectiously enthusiastic stage presence” (Sydney Morning Herald).

Image Credit: Albert Comp