Monday, January 27
American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas, Conductor
“Orphean Enchantments” Ancient Greek mythology tells us that Orpheus, the legendary musician and poet whose music and singing could charm the birds, fish, and wild beasts, is said to have moved mountains, silenced rivers, and caused trees to bend so they could hear his playing upon the lyre. Named after Orpheus, these concerts present countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen in a program of deeply moving works that affect the soul from joyful compositions by Buxtehude and Hoffmann to Vivaldi’s brooding Stabat Mater, along with a stunning Bach triple concerto and the rich sonorities of Muffat’s Concerto Grosso. With Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, countertenor; Sandra Miller, flute; Tekla Cunningham, violin; and Corey Jamason, harpsichord.
7 PM
Davis Community Church
412 C Street at Fourth, Davis
Tickets online $38 to $98
800-595-4TIX (-4849), [email protected]
http://americanbach.org
Tuesday, January 28
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Nicholas McGegan, conductor
George Frideric Handel, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo The gender- and genre-bending operatic event that took New York City by storm in the summer of 2017 now makes landfall in the Bay Area. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times describes it as “an excitingly contemporary production” while The New Yorker praises the production “a smashing success.” Co-produced with National Sawdust, this harrowingly intimate re-imagination stars original cast members Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with Lauren Snouffer joining as Aci.
8 PM
ODC Theater
3153 17th St, San Francisco
$75 to $120
Tickets online, 415-295-1900, or [email protected]
Wednesday, January 29
Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra
Regular meeting, for players of recorder, early winds or early strings. Bring your instrument(s) and music stand.
7:30–9:30 PM
Trinity Church, Angus Hall
330 Ravenswood Ave. (at Laurel), Menlo Park
650-591-3648 or mpro-online.org
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Nicholas McGegan, conductor
George Frideric Handel, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo The gender- and genre-bending operatic event that took New York City by storm in the summer of 2017 now makes landfall in the Bay Area. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times describes it as “an excitingly contemporary production” while The New Yorker praises the production “a smashing success.” Co-produced with National Sawdust, this harrowingly intimate re-imagination stars original cast members Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with Lauren Snouffer joining as Aci.
8 PM
ODC Theater
3153 17th St, San Francisco
$75 to $120
Tickets online, 415-295-1900, or [email protected]
Friday, January 31
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Nicholas McGegan, conductor
George Frideric Handel, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo The gender- and genre-bending operatic event that took New York City by storm in the summer of 2017 now makes landfall in the Bay Area. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times describes it as “an excitingly contemporary production” while The New Yorker praises the production “a smashing success.” Co-produced with National Sawdust, this harrowingly intimate re-imagination stars original cast members Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with Lauren Snouffer joining as Aci.
8 PM
ODC Theater
3153 17th St, San Francisco
$75 to $120
Tickets online, 415-295-1900, or [email protected]
Saturday, February 1
Cal Performances presents Jordi Savall with La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Hespèrion XXI
“Splendor of the Iberian Baroque in the Time of Lope de Vega & Calderón de la Barca” Gamba virtuoso and musical polymath Jordi Savall returns with a performance celebrating the rich cultural melting pot of the Iberian Peninsula of the 16th and 17th centuries. Savall is joined by the Grammy-winning choir La Capella Reial de Catalunya, and his septet of virtuoso instrumentalists Hespèrion XXI, for a tour through the ornamented melodies and modal harmonies of the Arab-Andalusian tradition, plus dancing songs and romantic and pastoral themes woven together with colorful improvisation.
8 PM
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
$56–$92 (prices subject to change)
tickets online 510-642-9988 or [email protected]
Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra
“Kindred Spirits/Comparing the music of interesting pairs of composers from the Renaissance to the present,” a workshop directed by Judith Linsenberg. Judith Linsenberg holds a doctorate degree in early music from Stanford University, is an internationally known performer of the recorder as well as artistic director and member of the San Francisco Bay Area baroque ensemble, Musica Pacifica. The workshop is open to recorder players from the intermediate to advanced level. Please plan on bringing a music stand and a lunch. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Advanced registration is encouraged as space is limited.
10 AM to 5 PM
Chapel, Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverley St., Palo Alto
Workshop fees are as follows: MPRO, SFEMS and ARS members, $55; non-members, $60. For further information or to register for the workshop please visit the MPRO website at http://mpro-online.org/ or contact Chantal Moser at 408-972-4998
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, Nicholas McGegan, conductor
George Frideric Handel, Aci, Galatea e Polifemo The gender- and genre-bending operatic event that took New York City by storm in the summer of 2017 now makes landfall in the Bay Area. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times describes it as “an excitingly contemporary production” while The New Yorker praises the production “a smashing success.” Co-produced with National Sawdust, this harrowingly intimate re-imagination stars original cast members Anthony Roth Costanzo as Galatea and Davóne Tines as Polifemo, with Lauren Snouffer joining as Aci.
8 PM
ODC Theater
3153 17th St, San Francisco
$75 to $120
Tickets online, 415-295-1900, or [email protected]
Santa Cruz Baroque Festival
“In a Medieval Garden” Vajra Voices (5 singers, Medieval harp and bells, directed by Karen Clark, contralto; with Mary Springfels, vielle and citole) perform music by Hildegard of Bingen and medieval French music (Trouvère Songs, Nôtre Dame polyphony, and works of Guillaume de Machaut). The roots of our beloved classical music spring from prehistory, from the primordial forest of sacred chant and sung poetry illuminated by an occasional star like Saint Hildegard of Bingen, the Twelfth Century mystic called The Sibyl of the Rhine. Visionary composers based in Nôtre Dame de Paris gave us intricately woven multi-part sacred music, while aristocratic troubadours and trouvères such as Guiot de Dijon, a thirteenth-century Burgundian poet, sang of courtly love. A century later, Guillaume de Machaut, the last artist equally skilled in poetry and music, created a unique Gothic vocal architecture.
7:30 PM Pre-concert talks take place 45 minutes before concert time. Admission to talks are included with the ticket purchase. A Meet-the-Artist reception following this event welcomes donors, season ticket and flex-pass holders.
Holy Cross Church
126 High St., Santa Cruz
$25/$22/$10
Tickets online, 831-457-9693, or [email protected]
www.scbaroque.org
