Aston Magna Concert Series: A Musical Feast for Satyrs, Nymphs and Other BeastsMonteverdi, Vivaldi, Marais, Mozart, Baroque Dance & More
Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.—The vibrant music of Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Marais, along with a Baroque dance performance, headline Aston Magna Music Festival’s 2015 season, “A Musical Feast,” 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 four Friday evenings at 8 p.m. at Bard College’s Olin Auditorium. Aston Magna Artistic Director Daniel Stepner, Baroque violin, leads each event and delivers a pre-concert talk one hour before each performance.
For tickets call (888) 492-1283 or go to astonmagna.org. Complete information about subscriptions, venues and discounts can be found at astonmagna.org; for additional questions, email [email protected].
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.
On June 19, Aston Magna presents “Monteverdi’s Warring Lovers,” with Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Lettera amorosa, Tempro la cetra, and other operatic madrigals, plus instrumental works by Monteverdi’s peers Castello, Marini and Cima. The concert features return performances by soprano Dominique Labelle, and Frank Kelley and William Hite, tenors.
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.
On five Thursdays, June 18–July 16, the same Aston Magna performances take place at Slosberg Auditorium at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, at 7 p.m. On Saturdays the Festival moves to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on June 20 at 3 p.m. at The Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, and on June 27 and July 4 at The Daniel Arts Center at 6 p.m. The July 18 Great Barrington season finale performance takes place at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. For complete schedule information go to astonmagna.org
The Aston Magna Music Festival concerts at Bard are made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Aston Magna is also supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council; the local cultural councils of Waltham, Egremont-Alford, and Sheffield; and by Friends of Aston Magna.
Aston Magna Music Festival
Media Contact:
Ellen G. Lahr, EGLahr PR & Media
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Bard College Press Contact:
Eleanor Davis, [email protected] 845-758-7512
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