This preview has been provided by Baroque and Beyond.
Baroque & Beyond is pleased to announce its upcoming concert, Encore Baroque! The concert takes place on March 10 at Chapel of the Cross, beginning at 3:00 pm.
Florence Peacock and Penelope Jensen, two of the Triangle’s best-loved sopranos, are featured in arias and duets by Handel, Steffani, and Fiocco. They are backed by an instrumental ensemble of Rebecca Troxler, baroque flute; Robbie Link, viola da gamba; Barbara Blaker Krumdieck, baroque cello; and Beverly Biggs, harpsichord. Biggs is Artistic Director of Baroque & Beyond.
The instrumentalists are featured in two contrasting works by French baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1764), considered the founder of the ‘French violin school.’ Born in Lyon, Leclair left to study dance and violin in Turino, Italy, where he married a dancer. After her death 12 years later, he married the engraver Louise Roussel, who prepared all his works for printing from Opus 2 onward. Both instrumental selections on the program come from this opus. Rebecca Troxler will play his Sonata, Op. 2, no. 1. She will be joined in a Trio Sonata, Op.2, no.8, by gambist Robbie Link. Cello and harpsichord provide the basso continuo for these works.
George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) is one of the titans of the late baroque period. Handel will be represented with a duet for two sopranos and instruments, “Caro autor di mia doglia.” In addition, Florence Peacock will sing an aria from his opera Alcina. “Credete al mio dolore” pairs the soprano with cello obbligato in a work of haunting beauty.
A duet by Agostino Steffani (1654-1728) will also be heard. Steffani was an Italian ecclesiastic, diplomat and composer.
Penelope Jensen is featured in Joseph-Hector Fiocco’s first Lamentation, from one of his most famous works, Lamentations du Jeudi Saint. Fiocco (1703-1741) was born in Brussels, one of fifteen children. He was musically educated by an elder brother and by his father, Italian composer Pietro Antonio Fiocco. His career was spent in Antwerp and Brussels.
The Baroque & Beyond series is presented by Preservation Chapel Hill. The concert takes place in the historic chapel at Chapel of the Cross, 304 E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Concert time is 3:00 pm and tickets ($18) will be available at the door. They can also be ordered in advance from the Preservation Chapel Hill office at 919.942.7818. Additional information about Baroque & Beyond is found at www.baroqueandbeyond.org. The website offers musician biographies, photographs, and information about period instruments and performance practices.
