EarlyMusicNews.Org

(From the ArkivMusic.com 20 march 2012 newsletter)

“ArkivMusic's Spring Opera Sale has just begun! Every complete opera recording on CD and DVD is now on sale, along with a selection of new vocal and recital collections.

In addition to our featured titles below, this month we highlight the newly reissued series from Decca Opera and EMI Opera, the first-time-on-CD releases from Sony's Metropolitan Opera historic broadcasts, and the award-winning Opera in English series from Chandos.”
                  

“A Research Libraries UK and Preservation Advisory Centre joint seminar for RLUK members which explored the relationship between research libraries' approaches to preservation and conservation and the wider context of their overall strategy for collection management.
              

“Summer term dates for our regular Baroque and historical dance   classes in London, Bath, Cardiff, Gloucester and Exeter are now online.

Also, a reminder that booking is open for our Baroque dance summer school.  The whole course is ten days, but many people come for just a few days, with popular options being the first weekend or the last three-day bank holiday weekend.  Lower fees are available to those who pay a deposit before the end of April.”
                 

“Dunedin Consort and Players will perform St Matthew Passion by JS Bach for the twelfth year in succession. The Passion was first performed at Easter between 1727 and 1729 and Dunedin's performances have now become firmly rooted in Scotland’s musical calendar. Dunedin sings in German and the emotion and drama of the Passion story alternates with Picander’s poignant and devotional verse. John Butt, Director; Julian Podger, Evangelist; Robert Davies, Christ.”
                     

Location:  San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco California, US

“In collaboration with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, ABS presents three Master Classes during each concert season. All Master Classes are open to the public, and will take place in the Conservatory's Recital Hall. Admission is free and no tickets are required.“
               

Ten Competitors Also Chosen for Parkening Young Guitarist Competition

May 29-June 2, 2012, Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA

Malibu, CA, March 23 -- The world's preeminent classical guitar competition, the Parkening International Guitar Competition, has selected 15 standout competitors representing 10 countries to vie for the largest prize purse among guitar competitions when it is held at Pepperdine University Center for the Arts in Malibu, California, from Thursday, May 31, through Saturday, June 2, 2012.

Renowned guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening, the competition's namesake and artistic director, is Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine's Seaver College. The competition honors his lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia.
                    

“La Bourbon

In this course, we'll be learning Pécour's couple dance "La Bourbon", printed in Gaudrau's dance collection of 1712. We will also do co-ordination exercises and step-work, together with some contredanse for light relief!
                

From the latest “The English Concert” newsletter (23 mar 2012):

“The English Concert will hold a Gala Concert and Dinner at Drapers' Hall on
Thursday 29 November.  

We are absolutely delighted to announce that the concert will be directed by our founder and artistic director for 30 years, Trevor Pinnock CBE.nick@englishconcert.co.uk
           

(From the latest Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music Newsletter)

'Far from the tumult of arms'
Artistic Director Lindsay Kemp writes...

'My profession is very far from the tumult of arms and from the reasons of state that cause them to be taken up. When I mingle French airs with those of the Germans and the Italians, it is not in order to incite a war, but it is rather, perhaps, a prelude to the harmony of so many nations and to amiable peace.'
            

This month, Hyperion highlights their Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads. “A number of our newest albums offer Studio Master FLAC & ALAC files. These are 24-bit and at whatever sampling frequency (44.1 kHz, 88.2 kHz or 96 kHz) was used by the recording engineer at the time of recording (hence 'Studio Master'). These files are anything up to five times the size of their 16-bit 44.1 kHz equivalents and are more expensive. You should check the documentation of your playback equipment for compatibility with higher bit-rates and frequencies; most of our newest albums offer sample tracks for you to download and test free of charge. …” as well as new titles released this month.
                      

Monteverdi, Mantoue & Italy

“The theme of the festival each year is not an end in itself, a self-imposed restriction to creating a programme, but more of a guiding light that lends a unique color to each edition of the event. “La Folia” is a venue that has made it is possible to encounter early music in all of its facets, a series of concerts over an extended Whitsunday weekend, each “an earful” in itself. The previous festivals offered tours of the great musical traditions in Europe, taking listeners to Flanders, Austria, Bohemia and even to… Switerland! This year we are initiating a series of festivals dedicated to some of the most significant courts in music history: towns where enlightened princes maintained chapels and composers over a number of generations, nurturing the finest of Europe’s music during their golden ages. …”
            

Location: Froville FR

“The Froville priory, built in 1080, is one of the first settlements the benedictine monks of Cluny established in Lorraine. Its steeple dominates a small village, home of 120 inhabitants, midway between Nancy and Epinal.
      

“Intended to reveal the talents of tomorrow, the competition is open to international [voice] artists … and of any tessitura; it rewards the best vocal interpretations whose works are taken from the Baroque period repertoire.
          

Location: Bloomsbury Theatre, University College London, London UK

UCLU Music Society present University College Opera's production of Acante et Cephise by Jean-Philippe Rameau.

“In the first British staging of this spectacular French baroque pastorale héroïque, UCOpera rediscovers the story of the lovers, Acante and Céphise. Tormented and separated by the jealous genie, Oroès, their only hope lies with the good fairy Zirphile. Will she be able to save them or will they die at the hands of Oroès and his minions?  …
           

Location:  Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York NY, US

“Juilliard415 and the Clarion Choir under the direction of Steven Fox perform a program of masterworks that will include J.S. Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041; Handel’s Silete Venti; Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6, No. 4; and J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243.

Admission is free.

Tickets are available for pick-up in person at the Juilliard Box Office, 155 West 65th Street, which is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 6pm. TICKETS ARE NOW LIMITED!“
              

Location: New York NY, US

“I would like to inform you that the concert Clarion had planned for this year's Clarion Collegium Week, 'The Brothers Haydn', has had to be postponed.

We regret having to make this change, but we are delighted that the educational aspect of Clarion Collegium Week will take place as planned this year, offering classes in Baroque performance practice to high school and college students, and young professionals from all over the country.  All these events will be free and open to the public.

Sincerely,  

 

Madison Early Music Festival proudly presents the world-renowned ensemble Anonymous 4! Titled "Gloryland", this concert is the diary of their ongoing journey to the roots of Anglo-American vocal music.
                       

Location: Church of St. John the Evangelist, Kitchener Ontario, Canada

“The work of North German composer Dieterich Buxtehude was a strong influence on Bach. Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri (The Limbs of our Jesus) is a cycle of seven cantatas composed in 1680. Hear the transparent beauty of early music, with period instruments including a consort of Viols, foreshadowing Bach's work, in this breathtaking composition.”
                  

Blaze of Glory: Early Music Now

Location:  Milwaukee, WI US

“New to EMN: Two recent winners of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition. The five voices of Calmus Ensemble Leipzig join with the recorder collective QNG: Quartet New Generation in an exploration of music, much of which was written to honor Holy Roman Emperors, Kings, and Popes. Lecture at 4:00, Reception and preview of the 26th season at Intermission.”
       

Location: St. John's, Smith Square, Westminster London SW1, UK 

“Since the sixteenth century composers have been inspired by the emotionally charged atmosphere of the three great days of Holy Week. This programme presents some of the most exquisite music of the Triduum representing the agony and ecstasy of Holy week and Easter.

Programme includes music by Victoria, Palestrina, Byrd and Tallis.”
                    

“Our annual workshop series returns in 2012 at a range of venues across the country. These workshops offer hundreds of keen choral singers the opportunity to delve deeper into some of the Choral Pilgrimage 2012 repertoire. Workshops are led by two prominent members of The Sixteen; associate conductor Eamonn Dougan and singer and musicologist Sally Dunkley. …
               

“Abendmusik Concerts are named after a tradition—begun in the seventeenth century and perhaps best known under Buxtehude around 1700—of giving public concerts in churches outside of worship services, often financed by businessmen and private donors. In this series the Bach Society presents secular works, larger sacred works such as the passion settings and oratorios, and guest ensembles in a concert setting.
                

Music by Cornysh, Browne, and Mouton 

Location: Blessed Sacrament Church, 5041 9th Ave. NE, Seattle WA, US

“Between June 7 and 24, 1520, in fields near Calais, there took place one of the most spectacular political summit meetings of all time. Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France met to seal a treaty of friendship between their two warring countries, with no expense sparred. Everything was carefully prepared to make the surface seem smooth, yet everything had an undercurrent of the most intense rivalry, from the negotiations of high state to the wrestling, the food, the jousting--and the music. …
          

From the February 24, 2012 newsletter, Scherzi Musicali will be performing two concerts at the  Festival van Vlaanderen. Details below.
                     

Cantates All Saints and All Soul’s Day

“For the 18th time Musica, Impulse Centre for Music organizes an international master class. Musicians from all over the world participate in these master classes. In this edition Sigiswald Kuijken passes on his immense experience and vision to young musicians who seek their way in the world of early music.