Beatles go Baroque
When the timeless world of the Beatles meets the elegance and virtuosity of the Baroque style, a musical project as original as it is captivating is born: Beatles Go Baroque, conceived by Slovak composer, pianist, and conductor Peter Breiner.
Created in the early 1990s and released under the Naxos label, this project reimagines the Beatles’ greatest hits in the spirit of Baroque masters such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. The famous melodies of Lennon and McCartney are transformed into concerti grossi, sarabandes, bourrées, and even polonaises, in a refined writing style that blends humor, virtuosity, and emotion.
With chamber music instrumentation and writing inspired by 18th-century forms, Beatles Go Baroque builds a fascinating bridge between two musical worlds that might seem opposed: 1960s British pop and the European Baroque tradition. Yet the Beatles’ themes here reveal an astonishing melodic and contrapuntal richness, naturally engaging in dialogue with the universe of Bach and Vivaldi.
The program includes reinterpretations of Penny Lane, Hey Jude, Michelle, Here Comes the Sun, She Loves You, and The Long and Winding Road, reimagined in various Baroque styles. Each piece becomes a play of mirrors between popular heritage and classical music, offering the audience an experience that is at once accessible, elegant, and full of surprises.
Acclaimed worldwide, the project has led to several extensions, including stage and choreographic adaptations, confirming the universality of this encounter between the Beatles and the Baroque style.
Cast:
Hilaris Chamber, conducted by Peter Breiner
Soloists to be announced
Complete program on request
The Hilaris Chamber Orchestra, conducted by violinist Alan Vizváry, is dedicated to a lively and demanding interpretation of the great classical repertoire. Founded in 2014 in Bratislava, the ensemble brings together musicians from leading Slovak symphony orchestras.
The name “Hilaris,” derived from Latin, means “joyful” and reflects the spirit of the orchestra: to offer audiences an intense, elegant, and accessible musical experience. Winner of the gold medal at the Vienna International Music Competition in 2020, the Hilaris Chamber Orchestra is regularly invited to perform in the Slovak Philharmonic season and appears at numerous festivals across Europe, particularly in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
The ensemble has collaborated with renowned artists such as Adriana Kučerová, Adam Plachetka, and Rusanda Panfili. Its repertoire ranges from the Baroque period to the 20th century, with a particular focus on original projects and artistic crossovers. In 2019, the orchestra recorded an album dedicated to Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, praised for its orchestral interpretation of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2.
