[CANCELLED] Baroque Band
21st Century Brandenburg Project
Feb 21, 23, and 24, 2013
CANCELLED: We are greatly disappointed to announce that due to a sudden illness within the ensemble, the Baroque Band’s 21st Century Brandenburg Project has been postponed until a future MCA Stage season. The February 21, 23, and 24 performances will not take place. We sincerely apologize for this unfortunate event. Ticket refunds are provided by contacting the MCA Box Office at 312.397.4010.
Copresented with Baroque Band
“Immensely talented, vastly imaginative, and genuinely fun.”
–Chicago Classical Music
The spirited Baroque Band, founded only five years ago in Chicago and now one of America’s leading period instrument groups, makes its MCA Stage debut with an inspired project. Three distinctive concerts over the course of three evenings pair the illustrious Brandenburg Concertos by J.S. Bach with premier compositions by today’s leading composers.
Each evening features two pairings: a Bach Brandenburg Concerto along with a new composition by a contemporary composer. The new work is performed using the same instrumentation as one of Bach’s original works. The composers include Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s composer-in-residence Anna Clyne, along with Elbio Barilari, David Fulmer, Jennifer Jolley, Jason Seed, and Christopher Theofanidis.
Bach presented his Brandenburg Concertos in 1721 to the Margrave of Brandenburg as a gift. The bound manuscript contained six lively concertos for chamber orchestra, and was distinctive for its scoring and structure with an unprecedented variety of instruments and combinations for its time. These six works are considered by many as the greatest music created during the Baroque era. This remarkable three-night event promises to continue the spirit of gutsy experimentation that marks Bach’s genius and opens a whole spectrum of fantastic new possibilities in melodic riffs, rhythmic patterns, and improvisation using period instruments. This not-to-be-missed series features four world premiers, one US premier, and one Chicago premier.
21st Century Brandenburg Project’s contemporary composers include CSO’s composer in residence Anna Clyne, Elbio Barilari, David Fulmer, Jason Seed, Jennifer Jolley, and Christopher Theofanidis.
Program
Thu, Feb 21:
Concerto No. 1 in F Major with a new work by Elbio Barilari
Concerto No. 2 in F Major with a new work by David Fulmer
Sat, Feb 23:
Concerto No. 4 in G Major with Jason Seed’s Brandenburg 4.2
Concerto No. 5 in D Major with a new work by Jennifer Jolley
Sun, Feb 24:
Concerto No. 3 in G Major with Anna Clyne’s Within her Arms
Concerto No. 6 in B Flat Major with Christopher Theofanidis’ Muse
About the Artists
British violinist and conductor Garry Clarke is known as one of the finest interpreters of baroque music. Now living in the United States, Clarke is engaged in conducting, chamber music, and solo engagements. In 2007 he founded the Baroque Band, an exciting period-instrument orchestra based in Chicago. Clarke is also a member of the early music faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago where he directs the school’s new baroque orchestra and ensembles. He has performed across the country as well as in Chicago. Clarke moved to the U.S. in 2004 as an international recipient of the prestigious Arts Management Fellowship Award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Clarke was a member of the European Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Ton Koopman, and performed, recorded, and toured with William Christie and the French ensemble Les Arts Florissants. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with Catherine Mackintosh, and is a founding member of the Purcell Quartet.
More about the Baroque Band
Artists Up Close
First Night Postshow Talk
Thu, Feb 21, 2013
Peter Taub, Director of Performance Programs, leads a discussion with the artists and audience in the theater, after the performance.