Going for Baroque: the 2022-23 seasons of three Atlanta early music ensembles | EarRelevant

Mark Gresham | 16 SEP 2022

Although it is perfectly acceptable to perform on instruments that came into their modern forms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is arguable that most aficionados of Baroque music now prefer it played upon period instruments or replicas, or at least with historically informed performance practice (although at least one wag has suggested that changes every 15 years or so anyway).

Whatever the case, most mainstream orchestral programming still tends to focus on lush Romantic and post-Romantic symphonic repertoire, with occasional nods to the Classical era and Modern or contemporary works. In both major and regional orchestras of that common stripe, music of the Baroque period tends to emerge only with the Advent-to-Christmas (aka “Holiday”) season, certain choral works during other parts of the year, or popular favorites such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos with a suitably pared-down ensemble. The situation is similar with programming for most mainstream chamber ensembles, though Baroque repertoire can be heard more frequently; so a little mor balanced.

But there do exist ensembles dedicated to Baroque music, a singular term used as an umbrella for a rather diverse body of repertoire written within a span of roughly 150 years, from around 1600 through about 1750. There is a community of such ensembles in the greater Atlanta region, both professional and amateur. And there is an Atlanta Early Music Alliance of such groups that champions the belovèd Baroque cause and music of even earlier musical eras, as well as the transitional period leading from Baroque to the full flowering of Classicism.

Below, we offer EarRelevant readers a brief look at the 2022-23 concert schedules of just three of those Baroque ensembles. All three are members of the Atlanta Early Music Alliance.

Scroll down to view their schedules, or click an ensemble’s name below to go directly to the top of its schedule:

New Trinity Baroque
Atlanta Baroque Orchestra
Amethyst Baroque Ensemble

New Trinity Baroque

Now entering its 24th season, New Trinity Baroque is back with an offering of three concerts, leading into its actual 25th anniversary celebration in 2023. They are:

Saturday, September 24, 2022 @ 8:00pm
Solo recital of André Laurent O’Neil, entitled J.S. Bach’s Suites for Cello Solo – the concert he was supposed to play two years ago during the pandemic, at the time when his new double CD came out. It will feature selections from all of Bach’s suites, and the CD album will be available at a special discounted price;
Sunday, December 18, 2022 @ 8:00pm
NTB’s traditional annual Baroque Candlelight Christmas concert, featuring baroque holiday music for violins, harpsichord, organ, trumpet and voices. Besides NTB, the program will also feature St. Bart’s organist Stephen Frketic;
Saturday, March 18, 2023 @ 8:00pm
A concert celebrating NTB’s 25th anniversary (founded in March of 1998), entitled “Music of the Forgotten Baroque Masters,” featuring compositions for baroque flutes, voice, viola da brazzo, and da gamba, as well as harpsichord and chitarrone, by lesser-known composers such as G.B. Agneleti, J.A. Hasse, N. Porpora, S. de Brossard, and H. Schütz.

All concerts will take place in their home venue, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, where New Trinity Baroque has been the ensemble-in-residence for over 20 years. NTB’s artistic director, Predrag Gosta, says their website is currently being updated, but is where you will soon find ticket pricing for the new season and more information: newtrinitybaroque.org

Scroll down for Atlanta Baroque Orchestra…

Atlanta Baroque Orchestra

The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra is offering an expanded season of four concert programs form 2022-23, both in their home venue of the Cathedral of St. Philip and several new locations throughout the Atlanta area, plus an appearance in Savannah, Georgia. ABO has also taken on a baseball theme for this season’s programs. Playing off the Atlanta Braves as 2021 World Series Champions, artistic director Julie Andrijeski touts The ABO as a similarly “winning” ensemble, “made up of vibrant players, all of whom shine both as collaborators and soloists.”

September 30, 2022 @ 7:30pm, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta
October 1, 2022 @ 3:00pm, at Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell
October 2, 2022 @ 3:00pm, at Lassiter Concert Hall, Marietta
Jaap ter Linden, guest conductor; Erin Ellis, cello. “A League of Their Own” – Music of Mozart, Haydn, and Martines
November 18, 2022 @ 7:30pm, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta
November 19, 2022 @ 2:00pm, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta
Julie Andrijeski, director and concertmaster; in collaboration with The Cathedral of St. Philip Schola, Dale Adelmann, director; Raha Mirzadegan, soprano; Raquel Winnica Young, alto; Karim Sulayman, tenor; Mischa Bouvier, bass. HANDEL: Messiah
March 3, 2023 @ 7:30pm, at Peachtree Road United Methodist, Atlanta
March 4, 2023 @ 3:00pm, at Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell
March 5, 2023 @ 3:00pm, at Lassiter Concert Hall, Marietta
Julie Andrijeski, director and concertmaster; in collaboration with Kinnara, J.D. Burnett, artistic director. “Double Header” – Music of J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, J. Christoph Bach, and Zelenka.
April 21, 2023 @ 7:30pm, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta
April 22, 2023 @ 3:00pm, at Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell
April 23, 2023 @ 6:00pm, at Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Savannah
Evan Few, guest director & violin soloist; Anna Marsh, bassoon; Adam Jaffe, harpsichord. “Triple Play” – Concertos by J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi.

For more information, visit the ABO website at atlantabaroque.org

Scroll down for Amethyst Baroque Ensemble…

Amethyst Baroque Ensemble

Although they have already kicked their 2022-23 season earlier this month with concerts in Macon, Athens, and Dunwoody, there is more to come from Amethyst Baroque Ensemble:

Friday, December 16, 2022 @ 12:00pm, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta
Sunday, December 18, 2022 @ 3:00pm, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Athens
“Music of Advent” – 17th and 18th century music to celebrate the Advent season.
Sunday, March 26, 2022 @ 3:00pm, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta
ABE performs with guests Daphna Mor, recorder, and Sarah Mead, viola da gamba.

“We’ll have more season plans updated soon,” says co-artistic director Jody Miller, “as many venues weren’t ready to host concerts earlier and we are creating a concert season a little later than we usually do.” Learn more at: amethystbaroque.com ■