2018-Season

Traveling all the way from England to bring you the experience of falling in love—one of a beating heart and a quick smile—soprano Elizabeth Hungerford will enchant you. Enjoy gentle plucked strings that carry you through simple songs of romance, marked with dignified harpsichord accompaniment. Elizabeth performed in 2016 and the audience then fell in love with her expressive voice, witty engagement, and tremendous musicianship. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, this is a concert that cannot be missed.

Take a moment to consider the best wedding present you’ve ever given. Then consider coming to this performance of music from the Medici Codex, a choir-book gifted exactly 500 years ago to Pope Leo X’s nephew. The book was collected from the best composers of the Renaissance, and stands the test of time due to the stunning nature of the vocal music. These sacred compositions were written during a time of political strife and represent some of the challenges and beauty of the time. You will hear voices leaping in and out of one another, a big, moving sound, per- formed by four separate ensembles who have come together to celebrate this unique collection of music.

In 1747 J.S. Bach visited Potsdam, where the Emperor Frederick challenged him to prove his musical ability by immediately improvising on a theme composed by the Emperor himself. Bach’s genius prevailed, and this collection of canons and fugues are the result. This intricate music exemplifies the counterpoint nature of the challenge, with notes choreographed against one another in the “classic rock” style of High Baroque. This concert includes other works of Bach, and invites you to step into the heart of the dark, dramatic challenge of an Emperor.

Spanish and Moorish music, from Martinetes to Sevillanas and Fandangos. Featuring classical preludes by the Tunisian master Jassar Haj Youssef (viola d’amore) and Algerian master Mustafa Skandrani (fortepiano) and a Rococo sonata by Domenico Scarlatti played on viola d’amore with harpsichord.

Baroque music is, in some ways, familiar to us all. There are melodies and musical styles that were revolutionary in their time but merely commonplace to our modern ears. This concert seeks to take these time-honored styles and make them new again, to allow the audience to experience how ground-breaking these musical statements once were. Original works in High Baroque style by celebrated living composers Nicola Canzano, Martin Gaskell, Willem Ceuleers and others, including the cash prize winners of the Baroque Festival Bach Chorale Competition.