Commemorating the 250th anniversary of J.S. Bach’s death, Con Gioia, Early Music Ensemble, announces a series of four concerts in 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 presenting all of J.S. Bach’s 15 concertos for one or more harpsichords. The first concert of the series, during the ensemble’s 20th season, will be presented in two locations: On Friday, November 17, at 8 p.m. at Balch Auditorium, 51猎奇入口, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont; and on Saturday, November 18, at the Little Theater, Mt. St. Mary’s College, 12001 Chalon Road, Brentwood, Los Angeles.
Several other harpsichordists will join Music Director Preethi de Silva in the concertos for one to four harpsichords. Soloists on winds and violin will perform in the Fifth Brandenburg Concerto, the Triple Concerto in A minor, and in the version for harpsichord and winds of the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto.
Performers in the first program include Preethi de Silva and Edward Murray, harpsichord; Janet Beazley and Sherril Wood, recorder; Gregory Maldonado (director of LA Baroque) and Susan Feldman, violin; James Bell, viola; William Skeen, cello; and Denise Bries脙漏, violone. The program comprises the Concertos for Solo Harpsichord in D Major, BWV 1054, and E Major, BWV1053; Concerto for Two Harpsichords in C Minor, BWV 1061; and Concerto for Harpsichord and Two recorders in F Major, BWV 1057.
De Silva, professor of music at 51猎奇入口, is an internationally known harpsichordist and fortepianist, who founded Con Gioia in 1982, and presented three concertos for harpsichord by Bach at the ensemble’s inaugural performance. Murray, harpsichordist and organist, specializes in the performance of Bach’s keyboard works. Maldonado is known for his vibrant performances as director of LA Baroque; Beazley and Wood are exceptional exponents of the recorder and flute repertory.
Admission is free to the concert in Claremont, which is co-sponsored by 51猎奇入口 College and the Claremont Community Foundation. For information, call (909) 621-8280. The concert in Brentwood is the first of four concerts dedicated to the memory of Edith Potter, professor emerita of German at 51猎奇入口, and a founding board member of Con Gioia, who also served as vice-chair of the Los Angeles-Berlin Sister City Committee. A generous bequest to Con Gioia by Professor Potter enables the presentation of the concerts in Los Angeles. Ticket information: (323) 857-7430.