Our Music Director Nic discusses our upcoming concert in his own words. Enjoy!
“Lars Ulrik Mortensen is a master of Bach and it is a privilege for us that he’ll be directing the orchestra in an evening of the composer’s secular music: two harpsichord concerti, a Suite and the much-loved Wedding Cantata. We are also so pleased that he will be playing a wonderful new German harpsichord made by Berkeley craftsman John Phillips. John has built two of my harpsichords, including my favorite, which is known by audiences as ‘Goldilocks’ for obvious reasons – it’s painted gold!
” In the Cantata, Lars will be joined by Maria Keohane, a rising star of baroque singing.
“The Orchestral Suite in C is one of four such works by Bach that survive. Exactly for what occasions they were written is shrouded in mystery. All four suites were composed in the French Style as opposed to his concerti which were in the Italian manner in imitation of Vivaldi whose music Bach knew in manuscript copies that circulated throughout Europe.”
– Nicholas McGegan
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Sunday night’s Bach concert—gorgeous! Delicious! Actually, I’d be happy with a whole season of Bach….
My friend and I have a question: What determines when the string sections stand instead of sitting? Does it affect the sound? Or is it mostly a matter of convention?