Dubbed the ‘queen of the Baroque violin’, Rachel Podger is a remarkable, inspirational musician, bringing together immaculate technical prowess with a fresh, creative approach to the music she performs.

In three intimate International Festival recitals, in the historic surroundings of St Cecilia’s Hall – Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert venue – Podger explores one of the most extraordinary pieces of music ever composed.

Biber’s mystical Rosary Sonatas are 15 short musical meditations on moments in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary, conveyed in music of fearsome virtuosity and dazzling expressiveness – and each requiring its own individual tuning of the violin’s strings. As exuberant as they are profoundly moving, these flamboyant sonatas mark an intense spiritual journey for players and listeners alike.

In this first concert, Podger and her exceptional colleagues perform the bright, extrovert music of the five ‘Joyful Mysteries’ on the early life of Christ – from the Annunciation and the Nativity to the discovery of Jesus in the temple.