2016-2017 SEASON
October 9, 2016 – Handel to Haydn – 3 pm
Brilliant compositions for two harpsichords, from late-baroque Handel to early-classical Haydn. Music includes works by three sons of Bach: Johann Christian (the London Bach); J.C.F. (youngest of Johann Sebastian’s composer sons); and Wilhelm Friedemann (the eldest), whose two-harpsichord sonata is simply stunning. Harpsichordists Beverly Biggs & Elaine Funaro enjoy a ten-year history of performing together, having done regional performances, touring with baroque programs, and world and national premieres of new works.
January 22, 2017 – Echoes of Love – 3 pm Beloved sopranos Florence Peacock and Penelope Jensen reunite for this program of music focused on love. The program features Venus & Adonis, a secular cantata by George F. Handel, with its text about beauty and passion. Handel is also represented with two arias, Spesso mi sento dir and Sei bugiarda, umana steme. To these are added arias by J.S. Bach which extoll the open heart and the longing of the soul. The delightful Echo Aria from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio provides a light and happy touch. The instrumental ensemble is William Thauer, baroque oboe and oboe da caccia; Christopher Nunnally, baroque cello; and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord. They will accompany the vocal works and offer instrumental works as well.
March 12, 2017 – The Splendors of Italy – 3 pm
Guest artists Frances Blaker, recorder, and Keith Collins, baroque bassoon, are featured in a program of Italian masterpieces by famous composers like Vivaldi, as well as Bononcini, Besozzi, and Veracini, whose works deserve greater exposure. Veracini came from a large family of musicians; survived a shipwreck; and twenty years ago, had an asteroid named for him. Barbara Krumdieck, baroque cello; Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
2015-2016 SEASON
Eisenach to the Elbe – Sunday, Oct. 11 3pm
Telemann was one of the most prolific composers of all time. He is a huge favorite with baroque musicians, who take delight in the colorful variety of his music. You will enjoy instrumental sonatas and trios, along with a cantata for each of our sopranos: one encourages us to make good life choices; the other – dramatically – features a dragon. Andrew Bonner, baroque violin; Florence Peacock and Penelope Jensen, sopranos; Stephanie Vial, baroque cello; Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Italian Music Through the Ages – Sunday, Jan. 24 3 pm
Experience the sparkling and fiery music of the Italian baroque! Get to know the amazingly inspiring 17th century chamber music of composers Vitali and Castello, as well as the luxurious and moving music of the more familiar Corelli. Duo baroque violins are featured: David Wilson (California) and Allison Willett; with William Simms, theorbo (Baltimore); Barbara Blaker Krumdieck, cello; Beverly Biggs, harpsichord; and a cameo appearance by soprano Molly Quinn. Detailed description is found under “News Releases”.
Mediterranean Baroque – Sunday, March 13 3 pm
We welcome spring with the sunny music of Domenico Gabrielli (Italian composer and virtuoso cellist) and Antonio Vivaldi, representing Italy. Spain is represented by Diego Ortiz, and by Domenico Scarlatti, who served the Spanish royal family. Adding spice, Antonio Pendolfi Mealli wrote very dramatic music, as you might expect from a composer who lived a colorful life and is reported to have murdered a castrato. The rich tones of viola da gamba and baroque cello will be featured (Robbie Link and Barbara Blaker Krumdieck) along with Canadian baroque violinist Peter Lekx, and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
2014 – 2015 SEASON
CPE Bach & Bros.
October 12, 2014 3:00 pm Chapel of the Cross
Celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of CPE Bach. John O’Brien, fortepiano; Rebecca Troxler, flute; Chris Nunnally, cello; Joey O’Donnell, viola. The program includes CPE’s glorious piano quartet in a minor, along with music by other Bach brothers.
Molly Quinn: Pan & Syrinx
January 25, 2015 3:00 pm Chapel of the Cross
New York soprano Molly Quinn is much-beloved in her home town of Chapel Hill. She returns home for this program of French baroque music, featuring Monteclair’s cantata Pan & Syrinx. Also featured are Gail Schroeder, viola da gamba; Gesa Kordes, baroque violin; Rebecca Troxler, baroque flute; and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Bach & Erlebach
March 8, 2015 3:00 pm Chapel of the Cross
Featuring baroque violinist Dana Maiben (Boston); gambist Brent Wissick; soprano Florence Peacock; and harpsichordist Beverly Biggs. German baroque music by Bach, Erlebach, and their contemporaries.
2013 – 2014 SEASON
Vanish Ev’ry Torment October 13, 2013 3:00 PM
Baritone James Weaver & soprano Florence Peacock take the spotlight in J.S. Bach’s Cantata 32, Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen — a beautiful cantata portraying the Soul and Jesus, accompanied by oboe, strings and continuo. Weaver enjoys an international career, performing and recording with American Bach Soloists and other groups world-wide. With Andrew Bonner, baroque violin; Joey O’Donnell, baroque viola, Robbie Link, bass viol, and William Thauer, baroque oboe. Instrumental works include trio sonatas by Telemann and Graun.
Zephyr ~ Gentle Winds January 26, 2014 3:00 PM
An exuberant, talented ensemble of the region’s top baroque wind players join forces to recreate the magic of concertos and chamber works by Telemann, Zelenka, and Boismortier. Everyone is featured, with astonishing results. You will hear Frances Blaker and Jennifer Streeter, playing various recorders; William Thauer, Alicia Chapman and Aaron Reichelt (New York), baroque oboe; Rebecca Troxler, Tom Moore (Miami), Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham and John O’Brien, traverso; and Sally Merriman (Boston), baroque bassoon. The continuo group includes baroque cellist Barbara Blaker Krumdieck and harpsichordist Beverly Biggs. The program concludes with Vivaldi’s show-stopping Follia, variations on one of the most famous themes of the baroque era. *
*HIP Festival concert
Waking the Spirit: Andrew Willis & friends March 2, 2014
Andrew Willis will play on two fortepianos, after Stein (1784) and Dulcken (1815). Joining him will be Rebecca Troxler, baroque flute, and Stephanie Vial, cello, in trios by CPE Bach and Haydn; and Sally Renée Todd, fortepiano, in the Grande Sonate for four hands by virtuoso composer Ignaz Moscheles. Each instrument is uniquely well suited to awaken the spirit of the compositions on the program.
2011-2012 SEASON
Classical Riches
Sunday, October 14, 2012
3:00 pm – Chapel of the Cross
Music for two fortepianos, with violin and cello. Featuring John O’Brien & Beverly Biggs, fortepianos; John Pruett, violin; and Stephanie Vial, cello. The concert features works by the giants of the classical era. Mozart is represented with Sonata in e minor, K.304, for violin & fortepiano; and by a spirited Allegro for the entire ensemble. Beethoven’s Cello Sonata (Op. 5, no. 2) will be heard, along with Haydn’s Trio in B-flat major, Hob. XV:8 (violin, cello and fortepiano). A special treat will be Dussek’s Sonata in F major, Op. 26, an energetic work featuring two fortepianos.
Michael Maniaci, countertenor
Sunday, January 27, 2013
3:00 pm – Chapel of the Cross
Acclaimed as “one of the greatest singers of his generation” (Toronto Globe and Mail), Michael Maniaci has been praised for his rare, thrilling voice and sensational stage presence. Mr. Maniaci “possesses a remarkable voice, that marries trumpeting high notes with a warm and supple middle voice and secure bottom” (Washington Post). Following his overwhelming success as Tirinto in Chistopher Alden’s staging of Handel’s Imeneo for Glimmerglass Opera, Anthony Tommasini stated in the New York Times, “Michael Maniaci…is headed for a major career.” He joins Baroque & Beyond in a program of early Italian music and J.S. Bach. With William Simms, theorbo; Stephanie Vial, cello; Peter Lekx, baroque violin; and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Encore Baroque!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
3:00 pm – Chapel of the Cross
Featuring Penelope Jensen & Florence Peacock, sopranos; with Rebecca Troxler, baroque flute; Barbara Krumdieck, baroque cello; Robbie Link, viola da gamba; and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
This concert includes duets by Handel and Agostino Steffani, and arias by Handel and other composers. Rebecca Troxler will be featured in a Sonata by Jean-Marie Leclair. With other works, to be announced soon.
2011-2012 SEASON
Shepherd on the Rock
Sept. 18, 2011
Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, 3:00 pm
Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock is featured, with clarinet, soprano and fortepiano. Jimmy Gilmore and Florence Peacock join Beverly Biggs for this beloved early romantic work. The ensemble is rounded out by John Pruett and Stephanie Vial (violin and cello). The program also includes a remarkable Beethoven Trio for clarinet and strings; CPE Bach’s Sonata in B-flat for violin and fortepiano, Wq.77; and Haydn’s Trio in C,Hob.XV:21, for strings and fortepiano.
See REVIEWS – Classical Voice of North Carolina covered this concert.
Goddess in the Grove
Jan. 29, 2012
306 N. Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, 3:00 pm
This French baroque program takes its theme from “Actéon”, a cantata by Boismortier. Like most cantatas and opera works from the baroque era, this one has a complicated but delightful story. Florence Peacock, soprano, is featured in this work.
Other featured musicians are baroque oboist Alicia Chapman; viola da gambist Gail Schroder; and harpsichordists Elaine Funaro and Beverly Biggs. For bios, see the Musicians tab.
PROGRAM
Unmeasured prelude (in the style of Louis Couperin) by duo harpsichordists Funaro & Biggs, which segues into L’Imperiale by François Couperin. The ensemble will play the opening sonata of this work, which is written in sonata da chiesa (church) style. L’imperiale is one of four large works that make up Couperin’s Les Nations.
Suite des Oiseaux. Funaro & Biggs have assembled several delightful bird pieces from the pens of Rameau, Daquin and Couperin – including Le Rappel des Oiseaux (bird songs), La Poule (The Chicken) and Le Dodo, a beautiful lullaby.
Suite in D major for oboe & basso continuo by Jacques de Saint-Luc. Saint-Luc is primarily known today for his lute compositions but he also wrote music for one soprano instrument with accompaniment. This suite offers a feast of baroque dances, including a rigaudon with trumpet calls. It concludes with a passacaille, giving everyone a chance to be daring.
The final rousing set features music by Royer: his stately Allemande, followed by one of the great hits of the baroque era – March of the Scythians. A tour de force when played by one harpsichord (as Royer composed it) this piece takes on new sweep and vigor in this version for two harpsichords – a practice encouraged by French harpsichord composers of the period.
See REVIEWS – Classical Voice of North Carolina covered this concert.
Gulliver & Gusto!
Mar. 4, 2012
Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, 3:00 pm
Late baroque music con gusto! Telemann’s Gulliver Suite with violinists Andrew Bonner and Leah Peroutka; a sizzling continuo band (cello, viola da gamba, violone, and harpsichord) and soprano Penelope Jensen, in music of the baroque era.
The historic chapel at The Chapel of the Cross is a larger venue that accommodates our growing audience. With 125 seats, padded pews, excellent sight lines, good acoustics, and convenient nearby parking (the Planetarium parking lot is adjacent to the church; the Rosemary Street parking garage is a block north) this location is a wonderful match for period-music concerts.
The program:
- Telemann Gulliver Suite (for two violins)
- S. Bach Trio Sonata in C major, BWV 529 (violin, viola & basso continuo)
- Buxtehude Sonata in G, Op.1 no.2, BuxWV253 (violin, gamba, harpsichord)
- Corrette “Les délices de la solitude”, Op. 20 no.2 (cello & basso continuo)
- Pergolesi cantata, “Orfeo” (soprano, strings & continuo)
2010-2011 SEASON
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Age of Elegance
David Dutton, oboe; Beverly Biggs, fortepiano; Florence Peacock, soprano
From Mozart’s Divertimento to Lalliet’s stunning variations on Carnival of Venice; from the ethereal Fauconier Reverie to E.T. Paull’s famous Ben Hur Chariot Race: This concert features music from concerts in the late 1800′s – America’s age of elegance. Performed by the award-winning duo of Beverly Biggs, fortepiano & David Dutton, oboe. Biggs & Dutton have garnered high praise for this program in concert tours throughout the United States and Canada, and for their CD recording of this program. With guest soprano Florence Peacock.
Location – 306 Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC. 3:00 pm.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Voices of the Baroque
Two of the region’s best-loved singers are featured in this program of music by Handel, Telemann and Bach. Cantatas with one obbligato instrument and basso continuo and baroque instrumental works will be performed.
Penelope Jensen & Florence Peacock, sopranos; William Thauer, recorder & oboe; Leah Peroutka, baroque violin; Stephanie Vial, baroque cello; Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Location – Horace Williams House, 610 E. Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill. 3:00 pm.
See REVIEWS – Classical Voice of North Carolina covered this concert.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Totally Telemann
Telemann was possibly the most prolific composer of all time. In this program, representative of his nearly-infinite variety, the Baroque & Beyond players treat you to solos, trio sonatas, and a beautiful Paris Quartet.
Peter Lekx, baroque violin; Rebecca Troxler, baroque flute; Stephanie Vial, baroque cello; Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Location – 618 Beech Tree Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Please use your favorite online mapping service for directions. 3:00 pm. Read concert details on the ‘Press Releases’ tab. Reception follows the concert.
Baroque & Beyond is presented by the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill , 610 East Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514