Monday, January 25
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Artistic Director
“Bach Favorites” ABS’s 27th subscription season opens with an all-Bach program that displays the composer’s genius in a variety of settings. Maestro Thomas leads his ABS forces in two brilliant cantatas, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (“Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life”), a work best known for the beloved chorale setting, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” and Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70 (“Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!”), a bold and urgent setting of a text about the Day of Judgment. Violinist Tatiana Chulochnikova, the 2016 recipient of The Jeffrey Thomas Award, will be featured in a pair of thrilling instrumental works. Exhibiting the dazzling technique and bravura style that have made her one of today’s most exciting new Baroque violinists, Chulochnikova will perform her own transcription for solo violin of Bach’s organ Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and the Concerto for Violin in E Major.
7 PM
Davis Community Church,
412 C St., Davis
$30–$72
Tickets online or 415-621-7900
Thursday, January 28
Voices of Music
“La Bella più Bella” Sopranos Jennifer Ellis Kampani and Catherine Webster, joined by Elizabeth Blumenstock and Lisa Grodin, baroque violins; William Skeen, baroque cello; Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord & recorder; and David Tayler, archlute & baroque guitar, perform a program of 17th-century vocal duets and consort music for recorder, strings, and continuo, featuring works of Dieterich Buxtehude, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell, plus spectacular villancicos from the New World.
8 PM
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
555 Waverly, Palo Alto
$5–$40
Tickets online or 415-260-4687
Friday, January 29
MusicSources
Historical keyboard specialist Michael Tsalka (Netherlands/Israel) will showcase music of Mozart and others, performed on MusicSources newly acquired Viennese fortepiano.
8 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Church
2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley
$30 non members, $25 MusicSources members and seniors, $10 students 18 yrs. or younger
510-528-1685 or
[email protected]
SFEMS presents Quicksilver
“The (Very) First Viennese School” Quicksilver (Robert Mealy and Julie Andrijeski, co-directors & violins; Greg Ingles, trombone; Dominic Teresi, dulcian; David Morris, viola da gamba; Avi Stein, harpsichord & organ; and Charles Weaver, theorbo & baroque guitar) perform music from the court of the Holy Roman Empire during the 17th century. The splendid courts of Holy Roman Emperors from Matthias to Leopold I brought together composers and virtuosi to create a remarkable musical culture, and the brilliant music they wrote for the varied court festivities offer a rich feast of sumptuous sonatas and ingenious ballets. The marriage of Ferdinand II to Eleonora Gonzaga in 1622 ushered in what is sometimes called the “First Viennese school.” Eleonora brought with her to Vienna the composers Giovanni Battista Buonamente, Giovanni Valentini, and Pietro Paulo Melli, who introduced the Hapsburg court to the dramatic language of Monteverdi’s stile moderno. The last 40 years of the century witnessed the reign of Leopold I, who oversaw the presentation of more than 400 musical dramas, including operas, oratorios, ballets, and Carnival entertainments. His court musicians included Johan Kaspar Kerll and Johann Jacob Fux, “a remarkable figure [who] deserves far more recognition for his music than he has yet received.” Quicksilver’s program will feature works of these and other composers from this important transitional period, including Antonio Bertali, Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Pandolfi, Giovanni Legrenzi, Georg Muffat and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. Read more.
8 PM
First Presbyterian Church (NEW VENUE!)
1140 Cowper Street at Lincoln, Palo Alto
Tickets: General $40, Seniors $36, SFEMS Members $34, Students $12
Tickets online or 510-528-1725
Voices of Music
“La Bella più Bella” Sopranos Jennifer Ellis Kampani and Catherine Webster, joined by Elizabeth Blumenstock and Lisa Grodin, baroque violins; William Skeen, baroque cello; Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord & recorder; and David Tayler, archlute & baroque guitar, perform a program of 17th-century vocal duets and consort music for recorder, strings, and continuo, featuring works of Dieterich Buxtehude, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell, plus spectacular villancicos from the New World.
8 PM
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
3 Bay View Ave., Belvedere
$5–$40
Tickets online or 415-260-4687
Saturday, January 30
ACC/Bach presents Vajra Voices with Shira Kammen
The women’s chamber ensemble Vajra Voices, directed by Karen R. Clark, is joined by Shira Kammen (harp and vielle) in a rarely heard work by 14th-century French composer Guillaume de Machaut. Modern works by Kodaly and Ms. Kammen make for an evening of beauty, mystery and intrigue. “Le Lai de la Fonteinne (The Lay of the Fountain) is in essence a prayer and hymn of praise to the Virgin and a meditation on the nature of the Trinity, likened by the poet to a fountain.”
7:30 PM
Arlington Community Church
52 The Arlington, Kensington
Tickets $20 general, $15 senior, $10 student (with ID)
www.vajravoices.com
California Bach Society, Paul Flight, Director
“A Bach Celebration” Join us for an edifying and entertaining afternoon of glorious music, sparkling conversation, and delectable treats as we toast our favorite composer. Artistic Director Paul Flight will be our guide on a fascinating musical exploration of Bach’s life and genius. Plus, take advantage of this opportunity to support the chorus in our ambitious plan to perform Bach’s monumental masterpiece, the St. Matthew Passion, in 2016. Your donations at this event will be instrumental in bringing this great work to life. Please help make this dream come true!
4 PM (doors open at 3:30)
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
2300 Bancroft at Ellsworth, Berkeley
$35 in advance, $50 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased until 5 PM, Thursday, January 28.
Tickets online or 650-485-1097.
SFEMS presents Quicksilver
“The (Very) First Viennese School” Quicksilver (Robert Mealy and Julie Andrijeski, co-directors & violins; Greg Ingles, trombone; Dominic Teresi, dulcian; David Morris, viola da gamba; Avi Stein, harpsichord & organ; and Charles Weaver, theorbo & baroque guitar) perform music from the court of the Holy Roman Empire during the 17th century. The splendid courts of Holy Roman Emperors from Matthias to Leopold I brought together composers and virtuosi to create a remarkable musical culture, and the brilliant music they wrote for the varied court festivities offer a rich feast of sumptuous sonatas and ingenious ballets. The marriage of Ferdinand II to Eleonora Gonzaga in 1622 ushered in what is sometimes called the “First Viennese school.” Eleonora brought with her to Vienna the composers Giovanni Battista Buonamente, Giovanni Valentini, and Pietro Paulo Melli, who introduced the Hapsburg court to the dramatic language of Monteverdi’s stile moderno. The last 40 years of the century witnessed the reign of Leopold I, who oversaw the presentation of more than 400 musical dramas, including operas, oratorios, ballets, and Carnival entertainments. His court musicians included Johan Kaspar Kerll and Johann Jacob Fux, “a remarkable figure [who] deserves far more recognition for his music than he has yet received.” Quicksilver’s program will feature works of these and other composers from this important transitional period, including Antonio Bertali, Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Pandolfi, Giovanni Legrenzi, Georg Muffat and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. Read more.
7:30 PM
St. John’s Presbyterian Church
2727 College Avenue, Berkeley
Tickets: General $40, Seniors $36, SFEMS Members $34, Students $12
Tickets online or 510-528-1725
Voices of Music
“La Bella più Bella” Sopranos Jennifer Ellis Kampani and Catherine Webster, joined by Elizabeth Blumenstock and Lisa Grodin, baroque violins; William Skeen, baroque cello; Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord & recorder; and David Tayler, archlute & baroque guitar, perform a program of 17th-century vocal duets and consort music for recorder, strings, and continuo, featuring works of Dieterich Buxtehude, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell, plus spectacular villancicos from the New World.
8 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell St. (at Gough) St, San Francisco
$5–$40
Tickets online or 415-260-4687
Sunday, January 31
SFEMS presents Quicksilver
“The (Very) First Viennese School” Quicksilver (Robert Mealy and Julie Andrijeski, co-directors & violins; Greg Ingles, trombone; Dominic Teresi, dulcian; David Morris, viola da gamba; Avi Stein, harpsichord & organ; and Charles Weaver, theorbo & baroque guitar) perform music from the court of the Holy Roman Empire during the 17th century. The splendid courts of Holy Roman Emperors from Matthias to Leopold I brought together composers and virtuosi to create a remarkable musical culture, and the brilliant music they wrote for the varied court festivities offer a rich feast of sumptuous sonatas and ingenious ballets. The marriage of Ferdinand II to Eleonora Gonzaga in 1622 ushered in what is sometimes called the “First Viennese school.” Eleonora brought with her to Vienna the composers Giovanni Battista Buonamente, Giovanni Valentini, and Pietro Paulo Melli, who introduced the Hapsburg court to the dramatic language of Monteverdi’s stile moderno. The last 40 years of the century witnessed the reign of Leopold I, who oversaw the presentation of more than 400 musical dramas, including operas, oratorios, ballets, and Carnival entertainments. His court musicians included Johan Kaspar Kerll and Johann Jacob Fux, “a remarkable figure [who] deserves far more recognition for his music than he has yet received.” Quicksilver’s program will feature works of these and other composers from this important transitional period, including Antonio Bertali, Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Pandolfi, Giovanni Legrenzi, Georg Muffat and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. Read more.
4 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell at Gough, San Francisco
Tickets: General $40, Seniors $36, SFEMS Members $34, Students $12
Tickets online or 510-528-1725
Vajra Voices with Shira Kammen
The Episcopal Chaplaincy at UC Berkeley sponsors a Candlemas Vespers with music of Hildegard von Bingen provided by Vajra Voices, Karen Clark, Director; and Shira Kammen.
4:30 PM talk on Hildegard von Bingen by Matthew Fox
6:15 PM Vespers
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
http://tinyurl.com/js86nxy
Voices of Music
“La Bella più Bella” Sopranos Jennifer Ellis Kampani and Catherine Webster, joined by Elizabeth Blumenstock and Lisa Grodin, baroque violins; William Skeen, baroque cello; Hanneke van Proosdij, harpsichord & recorder; and David Tayler, archlute & baroque guitar, perform a program of 17th-century vocal duets and consort music for recorder, strings, and continuo, featuring works of Dieterich Buxtehude, Claudio Monteverdi, and Henry Purcell, plus spectacular villancicos from the New World.
7:30 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Church
2005 Berryman St., Berkeley
$5–$40
Tickets online or 415-260-4687
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
