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Arcadia Players "The Finest Baroque Ensemble in the Pioneer Valley" Ian Watson, Artistic Director The Italian Connection: Bach & Vivaldi Concert details Press release

Johann Sebastian Bach Antonio Vivaldi

Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. One performance only!

Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall Smith College, Northampton MA Directions

Supported in part by a grant from the

ARCADIA PLAYERS OPENS 19TH SEASON SEPTEMBER 16 WITH “THE ITALIAN CONNECTION: BACH AND VIVALDI”

             Arcadia Players Baroque Ensemble opens its 19th season on Sunday, September 16, 2007, at 3 PM at Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall, Northampton, with a performance featuring works by Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach. Four distinguished area harpsichordists will be soloists in a concerto that Bach brilliantly adapted from a work of Vivaldi. Also featured in the program are Vivaldi’s setting of the Gloria and several shorter works.

            “This is a wonderful opportunity not only to hear great works by these great composers, but also to see how one made arrangements of the other’s music,” said Ian Watson, Arcadia Players’ Artistic Director, who will conduct the Ensemble as well as perform as one harpsichordist in the Bach/Vivaldi concert.

             “We feel very privileged and grateful to the Smith College Music Department for the use of Sweeney Concert Hall,” said fortepianist Monica Jakuc Leverett, a Smith College professor and member of Arcadia Players’ Board of Directors.  “Sweeney is one of the finest small concert halls in the east, with an acoustic that is perfect for this concert.”

             The season premiere begins with two lively instrumental pieces, the “Sinfonia” to Cantata BWV 209, “Non sa che sia dolore” (“He knows not what sorrow is”), for flute and strings by Bach, followed by Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in E-flat Major, Op. 8 No. 5, “La tempesta di mare” (“The storm at sea”), with violin soloist Lisa Rautenberg.

             Next is Bach’s Concerto for four harpsichords and strings in A minor, BWV 1065, one of a number works for multiple keyboards in which Bach reworked a composition of Vivaldi. Extravagant both visually and musically, the performance will feature harpsichordists Ian Watson, Gregory Hayes, Donald Meineke, and Grant Moss.

             Vivaldi’s stirring Gloria in D Major, RV 589, with vocal soloists Diana Brewer, Deanna Joseph, Paulette Labarre, Brenda McDonald, and Kayla Werlin, will complete the program. Concertgoers have opportunity to hear the Gloria coupled with its rarely heard introductory motet for soprano solo, Ostro picta, armata spina.

 Pre-ordered tickets are $20 general admission, $30 preferred seating, $10 students.Tickets are available at the door for $25 general admission, $35 preferred seating, $10 students. Tickets, including season subscriptions, may be pre-ordered by calling 413 534-8888. Complete information on Arcadia Players’ 19th season, tickets, and subscriptions may be found at www.arcadiaplayers.org or by calling (413) 534-8888.

 The season sponsor for Arcadia Players is WGBY. This concert is supported in part by a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, Inc.

Read more about the 19th season.