Monday, April 4
American Bach Soloists
Jeffrey Thomas, conductor of ABS, gives a master class. Each season, ABS presents free public master classes at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where students work with an ABS musician on matters of technique, interpretation, and applying a historically informed approach to Baroque repertory. In this session, ABS music director Jeffrey Thomas will coach students through selected works from the Baroque Era.
7:30 PM
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
50 Oak St., San Francisco
Free
415-621-7900
Tuesday, April 5
Sacramento Recorder Society
Regular meeting for recorder players, with guest conductor Frances Feldon. Newcomers welcome. Bring recorders, stand, and other early instruments. Music provided. Refreshments.
6:45–9:30 PM
Friends Meeting House
890 57th St., between H and J, Sacramento.
sacrecorders.wordpress.com
Friday, April 8
Black Box Baroque
George Frideric Handel’s Alcina. Based on Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando Furioso, this is one of Handel’s greatest operas, written in 1735 at the height of his expressive powers. Alcina, a powerful sorceress, is an expert in the art of seduction: she attracts men to her enchanted island and holds them captive. But with the handsome knight Ruggiero, the seductress is finally seduced. When Ruggiero’s beloved fiancée Bradamante comes to save him, which woman will prevail? Fully staged production, with soloists Kelly Rubinsohn as Alcina, Danielle Sampson as Ruggiero, Ellen Presley as Bradamante, Sara Hagenbuch as Morgana, Jonathan Smucker as Oronte, Siobhan Raupach as Oberto, Matthew Peterson as Melisso, and the Albany Consort as chamber orchestra.
8 PM
Exit Theater
156 Eddy Street, San Francisco
Tickets $20 to $30
Tickets online
http://www.blackboxbaroque.com/
South Bay Recorder Society
Monthly meeting, guest conductor Glen Shannon. New members and guests welcome.
7:30–10 PM
First Congregational Church of San Jose
1980 Hamilton Ave (at Leigh), San Jose
408-358-0878 or [email protected]
Saturday, April 9
Black Box Baroque
George Frideric Handel’s Alcina. Based on Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando Furioso, this is one of Handel’s greatest operas, written in 1735 at the height of his expressive powers. Alcina, a powerful sorceress, is an expert in the art of seduction: she attracts men to her enchanted island and holds them captive. But with the handsome knight Ruggiero, the seductress is finally seduced. When Ruggiero’s beloved fiancée Bradamante comes to save him, which woman will prevail? Fully staged production, with soloists Kelly Rubinsohn as Alcina, Danielle Sampson as Ruggiero, Ellen Presley as Bradamante, Sara Hagenbuch as Morgana, Jonathan Smucker as Oronte, Siobhan Raupach as Oberto, Matthew Peterson as Melisso, and the Albany Consort as chamber orchestra.
8 PM
Exit Theater
156 Eddy Street, San Francisco
Tickets $20 to $30
Tickets online
http://www.blackboxbaroque.com/
Cal Performances Presents The Tallis Scholars
Arguably the world’s leading vocal ensemble of Renaissance polyphony, the Tallis Scholars lend their luminous voices to a program that speaks to their prodigious strengths. Three motets by William Byrd, whose music the group has sung for decades, highlight the British composer’s intricate counterpoint (Laetentur caeli), artful word painting (Vigilate), and deep Catholic faith (Salve regina). Taverner’s influential Western Wynde Mass, an extravagant set of variations on a popular secular theme, showcases the mastery of his craft.
8 PM
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
Tickets $56 and above
Sold out. Add your name to a list for released tickets
Ensemble Alcatraz
The Bay Area’s legendary medieval ensemble reunites. Soprano Allison Lloyd Zelles joins original members Susan Rode Morris, soprano; Shira Kammen, vielle & rebec; Kit Higginson, recorder; Cheryl Ann Fulton, harp; and Peter Maund, percussion, for a program of songs from medieval Iberia, including the seven Cantigas de Amigo of Martin Codax, selections from the Cantigas de Santa Maria of Alfonso X (El Sabio), inspired instrumental elaborations, and more.
8 PM
Mission Blue Cultural Center
475 Mission Blue Dr., Brisbane
$20
www.LiveAtMissionBlue.com
Viola da Gamba Society/Pacifica Chapter
Monthly viol consort playing with guest coach Pat O’Scannell. Players of all levels welcome. Newcomers please phone ahead.
9 AM–3 PM
Hillside Church
1422 Navellier Street, El Cerrito
RSVP. Please email or phone ahead.
[email protected]
Sunday, April 10
Euphora Project
“Ávila: Musicians & Mystics of Sixteenth Century Spain” Through both new and ancient music, this program explores themes of contemplation grounded in repetitive musical forms, and mysticism and poetic vision illuminated through the art of improvisation. Using the writings of Teresa of Ávila (The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle) and John of the Cross (Spiritual Canticle and Dark Night of the Soul) as genesis, this music seeks to divine a glimpse of poetry and mysticism through fleeting and free spirited improvisation, contemplative solos and dramatic songs, with quiet instrumental meditations and select recitations interspersed. The program features selections from the vihuela literature of the Golden Age of Spain, medieval music associated with contemplative pilgrimage and Marian devotion, and new music setting the mystical works of Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross in meditative solos and reflective songs.
3 PM
Santa Sabina Center
25 Magnolia Avenue, San Rafael
$20 suggested donation
http://www.santasabinacenter.org/specials.html
MusicSources presents Sigiswald Kuijken
MusicSources Celebrates its 30 Year Anniversary as well as the 10th anniversary of Gilbert Martinez as Director, with special guest and early music pioneer Sigiswald Kuijken, baroque violin, and introducing the violoncello da spalla to the West Coast for the first time in this exclusive appearance. He will be joined by leading artists in our community to perform concertos, sonatas and other works by Corelli, Schmelzer, Vivaldi, and Bach.
5 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Church
2005 Berryman, Berkeley
$10–$30
Tickets: 510-528-1685
SFEMS presents Stile Antico
“Sacred or Profane? The Sensual Made Spiritual in the Renaissance” Stile Antico traces the blurred boundary between sacred and secular music in the Renaissance, we encounter risqué, racy chansons transformed by Lassus, Morales and Victoria into devout Masses and Magnificats, and ribald folksongs worked into prayerful polyphony by Dufay and Taverner. Most shockingly of all, and in spite of the Church’s disapproval, it was none other than the Cardinal of Milan who commissioned sacred texts to be fitted to some of Monteverdi’s most frankly erotic madrigals, crowning this survey of three centuries of superb music. In their program, Stile Antico will explore the way some composers often turned secular music—folk songs, chansons and madrigals, some of them extremely earthy in character—into religious pieces, far removed from the spirit of the originals. The ensemble will perform both the secular works and their sacred counterparts, offering a fascinating and unexpected window onto the way that music was perceived in the Renaissance period. Read more about Stile Antico.
4 PM — Special Appearance. One performance only. Reception and SFEMS 40th-Anniversary celebration follows.
First Congregational Church of Berkeley
2345 Channing Way (entrance on Dana at Durant), Berkeley
$28–$56
Tickets online or 510-528-1725
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
