Preview provided by Baroque & Beyond.
If a young boy today declared his intention to become a composer of classical music, there’s no telling whether his family would support or oppose that decision. But the family of Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was decidedly against it. Lucky for posterity, he ignored their wishes and became one of the most prolific composers of all time, and one of the musical giants of the late baroque era.
Baroque & Beyond will open its 2015-2016 season with a concert of Telemann’s music, entitled Eisenach to the Elbe. It features two cantatas for soprano, violin and continuo, along with several sparkling instrumental works.
The dragon takes center stage in Packe dich, gelämter Drache. In this work, an allegorical battle takes place between St. Michael and the evil dragon. Florence Peacock is the soloist, with violinist Andrew Bonner, and a continuo team of Stephanie Vial, cello, and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord.
Penelope Jensen sings the other cantata, Dass Herz un Sinn, o schwacher Mensch – also with violin obbligato and continuo. This one is happy and charming – a good balance to the drama of dragon-killing.
Instrumental selections round out the balance of the program. There are three little pieces, Spielstücke, with lively material. Each string player is featured in a sonata for their instrument. The program concludes with a brilliant Trio for the instrumental ensemble.
Tickets ($18) are available in advance (during the week) from Preservation Chapel Hill, which sponsors the concert series: call 919-942-7818 or visit http://www.preservationchapelhill.org/#!baroque-beyond/co6x. Tickets will also be available at the door.
The concert takes place at 3:00 pm Sunday afternoon, October 11, in the historic chapel at Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Parking can be found in the Planetarium parking lot next door, or the Rosemary Street parking garage a short distance away.
For additional information on the musicians and Baroque & Beyond, please visit www.baroqueandbeyond.org
