Newswise — It may be April, but the Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival (the oldest collegiate Bach Festival in the country), already is thinking Christmas. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248 will be the featured work at the 77th annual festival, Friday, April 17 " Sunday, April 19. Except for the two free concerts described below, all events are held in Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St., Berea.
Dwight Oltman, in his 34th year as festival music director, welcomes two new chamber ensembles to this year's event. Chatham Baroque, a trio that presents lively interpretations of 17th and 18th century music on period instruments, hails from Pittsburgh, but their music has been heard nationally and internationally. The ensemble was named "Best New Classical Artist of 1999" by National Public Radio.
The final concert will feature a version of Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 in an arrangement for nine instruments, performed by C.O.5 wind quintet and a string quartet, all members of The Cleveland Orchestra.
This year's soloists will be familiar to Bach Festival audiences. Tamara Matthews, soprano; Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Butterfield, tenor and Christopheren Nomura, baritone are returning Bach Festival soloists, all of whom bring international reputations and exceptional talent to the Festival.
"One of the strengths of our Bach Festival is that our students and faculty have the opportunity to perform with internationally recognized soloists," said Conservatory director Peter Landgren. "This year we also are pleased to look no further than Severance Hall for international stars who perform with The Cleveland Orchestra."
"With the addition of Dirk Garner as the director of choral activities, we enter a new era for the Bach Festival. Bach lovers will appreciate the attention to the detail of the sound and style in Bach's music that will be apparent to all who hear these performances," Landgren said.
The Bach Festival will offer two free concerts this year. A preview concert will be held on April 5 at 9 and 11 a.m. at the Federated Church, 76 Bell St., Chagrin Falls. It will feature the B-W Singers and Orchestra, conducted by Melvin Unger, performing the Bach cantata Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ with student soloists Margaret Mezzacappa, mezzo-soprano; Gene Stenger, tenor and faculty member Benjamin Czarnota, baritone. This concert will be repeated Sunday, April 19, 11:15 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Berea, 170 Seminary St.
The Friday and Saturday concerts are held at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Saturday lecture on the Christmas Oratorio by Robert Marshall, professor emeritus of music at Brandeis University, and author of two important books on Bach's compositional process and style
Following tradition each concert will be preceded by chorales from Marting Hall Tower, 50 Seminary St. John Brndiar conducts the Festival Brass.
Tickets for the B-W Bach Festival range from $70 - $115 and include an annotated festival program. Tickets for individual concerts are available on a limited basis beginning March 15. For detailed information about tickets and a complete concert schedule, call 440-826-8070, go to www.bw.edu/bachfest or log on to the Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival page on Facebook.
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