Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Presents: Kinks and Quirks

Tracing the edges of Classical form — where elegance meets eccentricity — this vibrant program brings together four composers who delighted in surprise, contrast, and invention. Led by the electrifying violinist Shunske Sato, this season finale invites you to hear familiar names with fresh ears, all performed on period instruments for a sound world closer to what the composers themselves imagined.

The journey begins with Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Symphony in F major — full of sudden turns, restless energy, and the kind of “kinks” that fascinated audiences and shaped the future of music. From there, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Thamos, King of Egypt adds theatrical intrigue, offering a rarely heard glimpse into Mozart’s dramatic side beyond the opera stage.
A young prodigy steps forward in Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in D minor — written at just 13, yet already brimming with intensity, lyricism, and brilliance. The program culminates in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C major — bold, witty, and just a little subversive, marking the beginning of a journey that would reshape the symphony forever.
With gut strings, classical bows, and historical winds, every “quirk” lands with clarity and character — playful, dramatic, and alive.

What's the music?

Shunske Sato Violin