Mark Gresham | 12 MAY 2020
Aside from the intimate chamberand solo recitals coming from musicians’ living rooms, Atlanta’s churches, not concert halls, may be the most likely larger, acoustically amiable places from which live-streamed video concerts emerge from during the ongoing pandemic. After all, some of them have long been well-known hosts hosts for classical music concerts, some with their own curated series. And these days, they even have their own sophisticated video production capabilities, primarily for broadcasting or streaming worship services to those unable to attend in person – which has become a tremendous advantage during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Such is the case with First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, the well-established next door neighbor to the Woodruff Arts Center campus, on the north side of 17th Street. Its well-established Concerts @ First” series took all of these advantages filly in hand this past Sunday when it presented its planned “Organ & Trumpets Spectacular” program via live video stream rather than inn front of a live audience.
The concert featured Stuart Stephenson and Michael Tiscione, respectively principal and associate principal trumpets with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and organist Jens Korndörfer, the church’s director of worship and the arts.
Of course there is still some debate about the value of reviewing streamed concerts. While we have done that on occasion. (Why is it more objectionable than reviewing a CD or a movie?) But this time, rather than a critical review, we thought it better to simply offer you the embedded concert video below. After all, there’s enough criticism going around surrounding the pandemic itself. Instead, just sit back, watch and listen for a change. The complete program is listed below the video link.
The programs features a variety of works for two trumpets and organ, one trumpet and organ, and for solo organ, from the joyful and unique Vivaldi double concerto which opens the concert to lyrical and grand works drawn from across several centuries. ■
Video:
Jens Korndörfer, orgsan; Stuart Stephenson & Michael Tiscione, trumpets
First Presbyterian Chirch of Atlanta
May 10, 2020
Click the “expand” button in lower right corner to enlarge (recommended)
Program:
Josef Gabriel RHEINBERGER: “Introduction” and “Passacaglia” from Organ Sonata No. 8, Op. 132
Frederick MAGEE: The Fairest of Roses
Edawrd ELGAR: “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations
Johann Sebastian BACH: “My Spirit Be Joyful” from Cantata BWV 146
Jean-Baptiste ROBIN: “Appels” from Recits Heroique
Marcel DUPRÉ: Variations sur un Noël, Op. 20
Léo DELIBES: “Flower Duet” from Lakmé
Jens Korndörfer (video still)
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