* No children under 1.2 meters are admitted
On November 14, Baroque violin master Fabio Biondi joins hands with Italy's national treasure-level ensemble Europa Galante to return to Shanghai after an 8-year absence! Biondi acts as both soloist and conductor, leading the whole orchestra with his violin, and restores the breath and rhythm of Baroque music in vivid, tension-filled performances.
On May 12, 2018, Europa Galante made its debut at Shanghai Concert Hall, leaving a deep impression on local music fans with its vivid authentic performances. Back then, some music fans sighed that the narrative of Baroque music unfolds layer upon layer, pulling people back to Venice hundreds of years ago in just one second; others expected Biondi to bring more rediscovered works by Italian Baroque composers to Shanghai.
Returning to Shanghai 8 years later, Biondi and Europa Galante will present Corelli's *Concerto Grosso in D major, Op.6 No.4*, Geminiani's *Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op.5 No.12 "La Folia"*, Locatelli's *Introduzioni Teatrali, Op.4 No.1 & No.4*, outlining the context of Italian concerto grosso from Corelli to Locatelli in authentic style; the second half of the concert will feature the full presentation of Vivaldi's *The Four Seasons*.
On November 14, we look forward to meeting you under the dome of Shanghai Concert Hall to hear the glorious movement of Baroque music.
Repertoire List
Arcangelo Corelli
Concerto grosso in D major, Op.6 No.4
Francesco Geminiani
Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op.5 No.12 'La Folia'
Pietro Antonio Locatelli
Introduzioni Teatrali, Op. 4, No. 1 & 4
Intermission
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
* Repertoire is subject to on-site performance
Artists
Fabio Biondi
Founder of Europa Galante, Conductor, Violinist
In 1989, following extensive work with specialist ensembles including Les Musiciens du Louvre and The English Concert, Biondi founded Europa Galante, which quickly became the foremost Italian period ensemble. Biondi and his ensemble have forged a reputation for "fresh, vibrant performances" (New York Times) and breathe new life into Baroque, Classical and early Romantic repertoire, performing at leading international festivals and stages with recent highlights including the Berlin Pierre Boulez Saal, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Enescu Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival.
Biondi brings this authentic and engaging approach to modern symphony and chamber orchestras, which he both conducts and directs from the violin. Recent and future highlights include the Chicago Symphony, Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, RAI Torino, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony, Mahler Chamber orchestras and the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg. He was Artistic Director for Baroque Music at the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra for eleven years until 2016.
Biondi’s experience in and passion for opera takes him to major houses including Zurich Opera, Berlin’s Staatsoper unter den Linden and in 2020 to the Grand Théâtre de Genève for Luk Perceval’s new production of Mozart *Die Entführung aus dem Serail*. He was Music Director 2015–18 of Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, where he conducted productions of Donizetti, Rossini, Haydn and Verdi *Il Corsaro*.
As a violinist, he is respected as a virtuoso "beyond reproach" (The Guardian), performing in recital across the world including at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Auditorio Nacional de Música Madrid and Cité de la Musique.
His broad discography on Warner Classics, Virgin and Glossa has earned Biondi numerous awards, including the Diapason d’Or de l’Année and Choc de Musique; his widely acclaimed recording with Europa Galante of Vivaldi *Four Seasons* was named Disc of the Year by organizations in over five countries. Biondi has also recorded with opera stars such as Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau, Philippe Jaroussky, Vivica Genaux and Rolando Villazón. His recent recording of *Paganini: Sonatas for Violin and Guitar* was named Editor's Choice by the Gramophone Magazine and the BBC Music Magazine.
Biondi has been an academician of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia since 2011, he was named in 2015 an Officer of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, and in 2019 was awarded the medal of Courage and Veracity by the Polish Government, in recognition of outstanding cultural achievements.
Europa Galante
Europa Galante was founded in 1989 by artistic director Fabio Biondi to provide an authentically Italian voice in the historically informed performance of Baroque and Classical repertoire - a field then largely shaped by Northern European interpreters. The ensemble achieved immediate international success with its debut recording of Vivaldi concertos, winning awards and setting a benchmark for stylistic rigour and interpretive vitality. Over subsequent decades, its extensive and acclaimed discography has won numerous international honours, including Diapason d’Or citations, BBC selections and three Grammy nominations. Regular invitations to perform in the world leading concert halls have confirmed Europa Galante’s standing among the foremost period-instrument ensembles.
As well as bringing famous compositions of the Italian Baroque such as Vivaldi’s *Four Seasons* to revolutionary new light, Europa Galante rediscovers and revives forgotten treasures of the 18th century. In a collaboration with the National Academy of Santa Cecilia the ensemble performed significant works by composers such as Antonio Caldara, Leonardo Leo and Gian Francesco di Maja, and has championed the stage works of Scarlatti. The ensemble’s research-driven activity has received recognition through prestigious Italian prizes, including several Abbiati awards made by Italian music critics.
The ensemble has also extended its historically informed practice into early 19th-century bel canto repertoire, first performing Bellini’s *Norma* at the 2001 Verdi Festival. Europa Galante has performed Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi at Festivals around the world, including the Chopin Festival. The ensemble also perform works by Polish composer Stanisław Moniuszko. Beyond its orchestral activity, Europa Galante explores a broad range of repertoire in their chamber projects, including the quintets of Luigi Boccherini and unpublished quartets of Carlo Monza.
Europa Galante’s identity is rooted in the long-standing cohesion of its musicians and their shared interpretative understanding and passion, under the guiding vision of Fabio Biondi. Through their ongoing touring, residencies and scholarly engagement, the musicians continue to lead the international early music scene with their balance of historical integrity, artistic excellence and interpretive innovation. In 2026, they embark on an extensive tour in Asia, Dubai and South America and continue their residence at the Teatro Due Foundation in Parma.
