Aston Magna Presents Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Marais, Mozart, Baroque Dance & More for Summer 2015

Carly Fox-Horton (photo Courtlyn Hanson, compliments of NY Baroque Dance Co.)

Carly Fox-Horton (photo Courtlyn Hanson, compliments of NY Baroque Dance Co.)

(ANNANDALE-on-HUDSON, N.Y.) — The vibrant music of Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Marais, along with a Baroque dance performance, comprise Aston Magna Music Festival’s 2015 season, “A Musical Feast,” running June 18 through July 18. The longest running summer festival of early music brings virtuoso guest artists on stage with the Aston Magna ensemble, playing on period instruments, on five Friday evenings at 8 p.m. at Bard College’s Olin Auditorium. On Saturdays the Festival moves to Great Barrington, Mass., on June 27 and July 4 at the Daniel Arts Center at Simon’s Rock College at 6 p.m. The July 18 Great Barrington season finale performance takes place at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Aston Magna Artistic Director Daniel Stepner, Baroque violin, leads each event and delivers a pre-concert talk one hour before each performance.

This year’s special guests include award-winning violinist Edson Scheid, vocalists Dominique Labelle, Frank Kelley, Deborah Rentz-Moore and William Hite; Eric Hoeprich, period clarinet, Stephen Hammer, classical oboe, Andrew Schwartz, period bassoon; and Todd Williams, natural horn, among others.

Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba

Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba

On June 26, Aston Magna presents “Le Monde de Marin Marais: La Musique et La Danse.” Works by Marais include Sarabande à l’espagnole; Les Voix Humaines; Sonate à la Maresienne; “Dressing and Dancing at the Court of Louis XIV:” La Toilette, Fêtes et Bals, Dancing Lessons, Rituals and Intricacies. Lully: Dance Interludes, Courantes, Sarabande; Louis de La Coste: Gigue. Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba; Catherine Liddell, theorbo; Daniel Stepner, Baroque violin; Carly Fox Horton and Olsi Gjeci, dancers, and Patricia Forelle, narrator

On July 3, “Wind Power” features Schubert’s monumental Octet for winds and strings; Boccherini Quintet, and duos from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Eric Hoeprich, period clarinet; Stephen Hammer, classical oboe; Andrew Schwartz, bassoon; Todd Williams, natural horn, and Daniel Stepner, Baroque violin, and ensemble.

The season’s final event, “Eternal Seasons,” July 17, offers Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; J.S. Bach Cantata “Wiederstehe doch der Sünde,” J.S. Bach Concerto in D Minor in a reconstruction as a concerto grosso by Daniel Stepner; Johann Christoph Bach, Motet “Ach, daß ich Wassers g’nug hätte.” Artists include mezzo- soprano Deborah Rentz-Moore, and, in the Vivaldi, four solo violinists: Edson Scheid Danielle Maddon, Julie Leven, and Daniel Stepner, who leads the Baroque ensemble.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.