March 19, 2009
ACTORS AND CHARACTERS NAMED FOR "THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST" CONCERT!
Reverend Michael Brecke and Actor Larry 'Thor' Thoreson have been busy lately. While Reverend Brecke has been researching historical characters, Thor has been lining up seven actors to represent the historical men and women. Now the two pieces have been put together. Well, almost. It's still undecided which actor will portray which character, however, the puzzle is very close to completion.
From the Paul Sills Community Theater we have Thor Thoreson, Leif Erickson, Jennifer Erickson, and Rich Higdon. From Isadora we have Katie Schnorr and Mark Moede. Mark will be joined by his wife, Mary, a professional actress. Each of them will represent a historical figure and reflect on one of the seven words based on the words of the person.
And who are these characters? A wide array of Christian figures, past and present:
Martin E. Marty
Mother Teresa
Saint Francis of Assisi
Martin Luther
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Saint Teresa of Avila
Mother Ann Lee
Martin Luther King, Jr.
More information will follow about these wonderful people, along with updates about the upcoming concert, "The Seven Last Words of Christ" on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 PM, Shepherd of the Bay, Ellison Bay.
There is a suggested $10 per adult goodwill offering. Advance reservations are not required, however, people can make reservations online at www.midsummerSmusic.com or call 920.854.7088.
March 4, 2009
POPULAR EASTER TRADITION RETURNS!
Back by popular demand, Midsummer’s Music Festival will present the sixth annual presentation of “The Seven Last Words of Christ” on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 PM, at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay.
This Holy Week tradition joins the Door County community from the south end of the county to Washington Island. This year will bring the community together with a completely new presentation of Franz Joseph Haydn’s masterpiece “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” Midsummer’s Music string quartet will perform, featuring David Perry and Isabella Lippi, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola; and Walter Preucil, cello. This concert, however, brings an entirely new meaning to the event.“ In the past we have had local clergy and guest speakers elaborate on the meaning of those last words,” explains Jim Berkenstock, Artistic Director. “This year, under the guidance of Reverend Michael Brecke, local professional actors will be representing historical characters, past or present, and reflect on each of the seven words, conveying the sense and essence of Christ’s last utterances. Larry ‘Thor’ Thoreson is working closely with Reverend Brecke in assembling the cast.”
“It’s well worth the trip to Ellison Bay to experience Holy Week in a completely different way,” says Berkenstock. “We’re very excited about the changes to the performance and feel that the universal appeal of the subject matter – love, faith and redemption – combined with beautiful music played by Door County’s premier chamber ensemble, along with the talent of local actors, will be the common thread with which to bind the Door community spiritually.”
People of all faiths are invited and children are welcome to attend The Seven Last Words of Christ. There is a suggested good will offering of $10 per adult and seating at Shepherd of the Bay will be general admission, with the performance starting at 7:00 PM.
More information will follow about this community event, as well as the Palm Sunday benefit brunch Alexander’s. In the meantime, to learn more call 920-854-7088 or visit www.midsummerSmusic.com.
March 4, 2009
ANNUAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT BRUNCH RETURNS
Midsummer’s Music is having their annual benefit brunch on Sunday, April 5 at Alexander’s in Fish Creek from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This extraordinary feast has become a tradition for the entire Door County community. Chef Bruce Alexander features a delectable array of foods which is sure to please adults and children alike. Tickets are just $15 per adult, $5 for youth 7 – 16, and children 6 and under are free.
The proceeds go to Midsummer’s Music Festival to help offset costs for the presentation of The Seven Last Words of Christ concert on April 7. “We’re so pleased that Alexander’s is again offering their services for this benefit brunch,” explains Kathleen Pearson, Executive Director of Midsummer’s Music. “Presenting this event incurs a variety of expenses from advertising, programs, staff time, and miscellaneous fees. We are grateful that this brunch brings in essential funds to help with those and many other performance costs.”
Midsummer’s Music Festival will present the sixth annual presentation of Haydn’s The Seven Last Words of Christ concert on Tuesday, April 7 at 7:00 PM, at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay. To learn more, call 920-854-7088 or visit www.midsummerSmusic.com.
August 2009
PENINSULA PULSE - CULTURE CLUB
By Kathleen M. Pearson
As I pondered what to write about for this article, there were many things that came to mind. I recently completed my first year with Midsummer’s Music and although well prepared for the administrative side of a performing arts nonprofit, I was not prepared for the magic and mystery of each event. Quite often I find myself holding my breath as I watch and listen to the brilliance of our musicians. These experiences are shared by first-time concertgoers and longtime friends, not just through my own observations but through the delighted words of our audience.
Imagine a cool summer night, the feel of crisp air yet offering warmth and comfort all at the same time. Somewhere there is scent of a lovely garden although you can’t identify exactly what smells so wonderful. Perhaps that fragrance brings back a childhood memory for one brief moment. Nonetheless, it’s calming.
All of this is preceded by a special dinner at your favorite restaurant. You sip a glass of fine wine while enjoying a superb meal, and share great company and conversation. The evening is off to a perfect start, full of anticipation and excitement. Your thoughts vary. If you have dessert, will that make you late? Maybe let’s skip it because there will be wonderful desserts later on.
You feel nervous anticipation as you park the car. This is something you’ve looked forward to all week. That fragrance in the garden stops you – what is it? – and then you continue. A greeting is called out and a brief exchange is held. You search for the perfect seats and then calmly read through the program. It doesn’t matter that you’ve read through it before because you always find something new and different.
You look around and watch others arrive, some of whom you know. It’s a perfect opportunity to catch up with each other and suddenly, while in deep conversation, it’s time to take your seat. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. This is what the evening is all about.
Before the music starts, you learn about the composers. You had no idea that Mendelssohn wrote this composition when he was 15. What were you doing at age 15? Probably chasing the opposite sex! This is very interesting.
Now it’s time. You watch as the performers take their places. Music stands are adjusted and last-minute tuning is heard. The musicians are ready to begin. You hold your breath as you wait for the ensemble to play. Slightly amusing, yet always exciting, you wonder how they begin without a conductor. Your eyes move from one musician to the next. You smile while you watch Sally Chisholm play viola. Facial expression is an understatement in Sally’s case. Why did she just smile? Was it a particularly difficult section that she got through? You can barely take your eyes off of her when you hear the magical sounds of the flute. Jean Berkenstock’s solo now has your full attention. Walter Preucil’s cello joins in and you watch between him and Jean. Their focus is intent, interacting with each other and the rest of the ensemble in perfect harmony. Suddenly you are taken by the sounds of the clarinet. It’s almost flutelike and absolute perfection as played by Wagner Campos. The ensemble’s tone and spirit is second to none.
But the one person you have trouble taking your eyes off of is David Perry, violin. His body ebbs and flows with the music, calm yet hysterical, andante yet vivace. Although not the leader or conductor of the ensemble, the ensemble flows through him. You notice that when their eyes are not on the music, they are on David. You watch him and the others because of what you hear. You ask yourself how it is possible to have so much talent on one stage. And you think how fortunate you are to be there, experiencing the sights and sounds of this amazing ensemble.
Suddenly, and seemingly without notice, the last note rings out. Normally a pretty reserved person, you jump to your feet, cheering and applauding. You smile as the ensemble takes their bow, exits, and return a couple more times. The wild appreciation is contagious and you smile when the musicians smile. For them, they are happy to make you happy. For you, you want to thank them and show your appreciation.
But it’s not over. You look over at the reception table. Oh, remember that dessert you skipped at dinner? Is there chocolate? You find your courage to speak to some of the musicians, thanking them for a wonderful performance.
As you walk to your car you smell that lovely fragrance again. What is it? You stop by the garden and linger ever so briefly, enjoying the scent one last time.
The drive home alternates between silence and pandemonium. One minute you are deep in thought about the magic of the performance. The next moment a friend breaks your reverie, sharing their experience. It’s a perfect end to a perfect evening.
This is an event.
This is an experience.
This is Midsummer’s Music Festival.
"This article is reprinted with permission of the Peninsula Pulse,
Door County's resource for the news, arts and entertainment. For more information visit www.ppulse.com."
June 10, 2008
Our friend in music, Erik Eriksson, passed away on Friday, June 6, 2008. He has been a great supporter of Midsummer's Music Festival and wrote many wonderful reviews about our concerts, musicians and programs.
Erik was able to attend the Pro Arte Quartet concert at the Ephraim Moravian Church on May 14. It was his last concert and as sponsors of this concert, Midsummer's Music is honored to have received Erik's brilliant, and last, music review which was published in the May 16 issue of the Peninsula Pulse.
Eighth Notes
by Erik Eriksson
May 30, 2008
When the Pro Arte Quartet came to the Ephraim Moravian Church on May 14, it gave us both its best playing to date and a fresh, beautifully conceived program. This ensemble has an illustrious history extending many decades past. Its present incarnation may be the finest ever, an exciting blend of impetuosity and mature musicianship. Nothing these artists undertake is ever routine; they find ways to breathe a new aspect into their work – and that affords new unexpected rewards.
We must begin with the astonishing leader – David Perry, a violinist known to every colleague as one of outright best among today’s fiddlers. A silken tone, fiery facility and consummate musicianship are absorbed by all who work with him. Fortunately, his associates have obviously profited from his gifts and the results have been sparkling. Second violinist Suzanne Beia has become ever more subtle, ever more technically accomplished. Violist Sally Chisholm is miraculous – lush, exquisite in tone (from her Amati/Guarneri hybrid). Her musicianship is commanding and her detailing a wonder. Cellist Parry Karp has sharpened his art, now vibrating faster and fitting in with his associates more compellingly.
For the first work, the quartet chose the String Quartet in C Minor by Luigi Boccherini. They used a manuscript obtained in Lucca, Italy when they were on sabbatical this past year. The work is a treasurable one, drawing even, liquid sounds in the Comodo first movement. Parry Karp led deftly in the early pages of the Adagio. The final Allegro contained some jagged writing, eagerly embraced by the foursome.
The second number, Cypresses or Cypress Trees, was composed by Antonin Dvorak when he was twenty-four and smitten with a young lady. These were originally a set of songs, but Dvorak later recast segments into a string quartet. It, like so many other Dvorak works, is rich in contrasts and is suffused with both grace and loveliness. From the sweetness of You are my Glorious Rose to the ferocity of There Stands an Ancient Crag, The Pro Arte was in command of every nuance. A lovelier or more completely realized performance could scarcely be imagined.
For the evening’s finale, the quartet chose Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in E Minor, Op. 44, his second venture in this genre. Here, the Pro Arte had a sure grip on the often quixotic work. The lively opening Allegro was rife with energy while still being beautifully crafted. The following Scherzo had a firefly liveliness and some remarkable execution. The Andante flowed easily, melodically while the Presto agitato poured forth with frothy agitation.
At the conclusion, the applause was loud and long enough to coax the quartet back for an encore: the third of a set of minuets by Schubert.
This was, withal, a remarkable evening. Wonderful.
This program was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Make a Joyful Noise!
Last night's performance at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay received rave reviews from the 180 people in attendance. "This was wonderful!" was a comment given by many. "Thank you for such a great performance!" and "The musicians and actors did an excellent job!" were among the comments as people left the church.
Midsummer's Music Festival's string quartet David Perry, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola, and Walter Perry, cello; were joined by Hyunsil Roh, violin. Hyunsil, a graduate student at University of Wisconsin-Madison, replaced Isabella Lippi. All four musicians brought their unique talent and grace to the performance.
David Perry, Hyunsil Roh, Walter Preucil, Sally Chisholm
Actor Thor Thoreson introduced "The Seven Last Words of Christ" as character Martin Marty, the only living person in an evening of historical characters. "My name is Martin Marty. I am a church historian, a teach of others who want to join in the conversation about God; a writer who has spent his entire life reflecting on the history of the Christian faith and the center and focus of that faith, Jesus Christ. I live in Chicago and work at the University of Chicago."
The introduction continued with a conversation about agony. "Four Gospel writers capture seven words from Jesus in agony. They are words that stab the hearts of millions on the bad day that people call Good Friday."
Thor Thoreson presents Martin Marty
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Actress Jennifer Erickson approached the altar with a scarf draped around her head. "I am Mother Teresa, an Albanian Nun. I have Indian Citizenship. For 45 years in Calcutta, I have taken care of the poor, the sick, the orphaned and the dying. In 1979 I won the Nobel Peace Prize. I founded the Missionaires of Charity and when I died there were 610 missions in 123 countries. The missions include hospices and homes for people with AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, orphanages and schools."
Reverend Michael Brecke
Jennifer Erickson as Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa spoke of forgiveness. ". . . this neglect to love brings spiritual poverty. Maybe in our own family we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried. Are we there? Are we willing to give until it hurts? Are we willing to forgive? If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive."
"Today thou shalt be with me in paradise."
Actor Leif Erickson, looking very much like a figure from the Bible, with his white beard and hair, announced to the audience, "I am Francis. I was born in a place called Assisi in 1182. I was the son of a good family. I wanted for nothing. I went to war and came home. I experienced the presence of God and my life changed. I met Lady Poverty in the Gospels and gave away everything that I had. I spent the rest of my life caring for the poor and learning how to pray. I had a very special place in my heart for life for the birds of the air and all of the animals."
"These are my prayers:
Lord make me an instrument of your peace . . ."
David Perry and Hyunsil Roh
Leif Erickson presents Saint Francis of Assisi
"Woman, behild your son; son, behold your mother."
Actor Mark Moede stood on the stage presenting Martin Luther. "I am Martin Luther. I was studying to be a lawyer when I was terrified by a thunderstorm full of lightening and murderous crashes. I promised St. Anne that if survived the storm that I would become a monk. I joined the Black Cloister, an Augustinian order, and tried hard to make my self worthy of forgiveness. I even tried to beat the sin out of my body. I discovered the simple principle of 'being made right with God by faith and grace." It changed my life. Some people think I started the Protestant Reformation in the Sixteenth Century."
Mark Moede presents Dietrich Boenhoeffer
"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Actor Rich Higdon stood in front of a rapt audience. "I am Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I was a young German theologian. I went to school in New York City. I loved American jazz. I bought an old car and drove around the United States. In 1932 I went back to Germany. I started an underground seminary, I participated in a plot to kill Adolf Hitler. I was martyred for my effort. My writings have greatly influenced contemporary Christian theology. While I was awaiting my execution, I wrote this poem."
"Who am I?
Martin Luther speaks of the cross. "Above his cross was inscribed: "Jesus of Nazareth the King of Jews." To announce the nature of the crime was a good custom. . . .Christ was charged with being the King of the Jews. Today we still write above the cross, though now it has become a title of honor, just as his cross and death have come to be esteemed."
Rich Hidgon presents Dietrich Bonhoeffer
They often tell me I stepped from my cell's confinement. Calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who am I? . . ."
"I thirst."
Actress Katie Schnorr walked to the stage with confidence and a smile. "I am Teresa of Avila. They tell me I am everyone's favorite saint. I am a mystic. I have founded 17 monasteries for women. I am the beloved friend of St. John of the Cross. I am witty, vivacious, pretty, clever, fiercely independent, and totally and delightfully a woman. I lived my life in Spain from 1515 to 1583. I am exuberant about life. Whey I pray, I pray with fervor. When I feast, I feast with joy. When I died, I spoke these words: 'My Lord, it is time to move on. Well, then may your will be done. O my Lord and my Spouse, the hour that I ahve longed for has come. It is time for us to meet one another."
my religious beliefs. As a community, we Shakers made popular furniture with very simple designs, marketed a whole line of seeds, made hats and cheese boxes, and built distinctive homes, all the while living in a community."
Katie Schnorr presents Teresa of Avila
"It is finished."
When actress Mary White (Moede) took her place on stage she looked very much like her character Mother Ann Lee. "I am Mother Ann Lee. I founded the Shakers or Shaking Quakers. As Shakers the members of our church, 'sang, chanted, shouted, laughed, and danced' as part of our daily worship. We daily expressed mystical joy. I grew up in England and came to American to have the right to practice religious freedom. In New England we founded a place of worship and a style of living that many people resented. One of the touchstones of our religious life was celibacy, a desire to refrain from all sexual desire. Once I was dragged from my New England home, beaten and stripped naked and left in the cold on a winter's day, all because of
Walter Preucil and Sally Chisholm
Mary White presents Mother Ann Lee
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."
Actor Hervy Hodges, a new addition to the cast, held the audiences' attention as he began to speak. "I am Martin Luther King, Jr. and I am a Baptist Preacher who grew up in the South. I led some marches for civil rights in the 60's; in places like Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. I led a march to our nation's capital and gave a speech about a dream I had for an America without a color line. I was arrested and put in jail many times in places that never made the headlines like Albany, Georgia. I locked horns with sheriffs and governors and taught people how to do non-violence like my brother Ghandi. I protested the war and marched for equal pay for all my sisters and brothers. I died standing on a balcony in a southern city when someone shot me. I spent my life preaching the gospel of love and forgiveness."
Hervy Hodges presents Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 8, 2009
HAYDN'S "THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST" PERFORMANCE A MASTERPIECE!
Midsummer's Music Festival extends our deepest gratitude to these very talented people who have given of their time to help present this spiritual and inspirational perspective of Holy Week.
JULY 1, 2009
MIDSUMMER'S MUSIC FESTIVAL Wraps Up June/July Season!
Hello,
Please join us as we come to the end of our 19th June/July festival. From Mozart to Schubert, the programs are superb! Our ensemble features world-class musicians from the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pro Arte Quartet, Atlanta Symphony, and Aspen Music Festival. And that's just for starters!
All concerts feature inviting receptions - meet the musicians!
Midsummer's Music Festival. Not for the faint of heart!
Kathleen M. Pearson
Executive Director
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Wednesday, July 1, Ellison Bay, 7:30 PM, Shepherd of the Bay
Thursday, July 2, Egg Harbor, 7:30 PM, Woodwalk Gallery
Friday, July 3, Fish Creek, 7:00 PM, Peninsula School of Art
Sunday, July 5, Ellison Bay, 2:00 PM, The Clearing
Monday, July 6, Ellison Bay, 7:30 PM, Fiedler Residence
Tuesday, July 7, Ellison Bay, 7:30 PM, Shepherd of the Bay
Wednesday, July 8, Ephraim, 7:30 PM, Unitarian Fellowship
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
This is the last chance to hear Schubert's most well-known piece, "The Trout". Written for violin, viola, cello, bass, and piano, it's a performance you don't want to miss.
Tonight's concert also features the music of Mozart. The Adagio and Rondo in C Major, for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano was written in the last year of Mozart's short life. Written for a glass harmonica, our ensemble performs this masterfully. Pianist Bill Billingham reproduces the crystal sounds of the glass harmonica beautifully.
Female composer Louise Farrenc's Sextet in C Minor, Opus 40 for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano has relentless energy, especially in the piano. This piece will knock your socks off!
The performance is at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay. The concerts begins at 7:30 PM.
Adults: $25 per person (includes tax)
Youth: 17 and under are free.
Tickets are available at the door.
PROGRAM D - COLOR AND PASSION
Midsummer's Music Festival presents one of the staples of the chamber music repertoire, the Quintet in C Major by Franz Schubert.
This deeply romantic work was the first to utilize two cellos in the traditional string quartet form and was written two months prior to Schubert's premature death.
This program includes a strong and engergetic composition by Ferenc Farkas, "Danse Paraphrase" for flute, horn, and viola.
Another composition, by Karl Eduard Goepfart, "Quartet in D Minor" for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon is full of energy and joy. As Goepfart wrote in 1897, "Creation in the composition of chamber music for wind instruments has now become for me a joyous playground of bubbling discovery . . ."
Program D will be performed at the following venues:
Thursday, July 2, 7:30 PM, Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor*
Friday, July 3, 7:00 PM, Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek*
Monday, July 6, 7:30 PM, Fiedler Residence, Ellison Bay**
Adults: *$25 per adult for core concerts (includes tax)
Youth 17 and under are free.
**$50 per person for home concert (includes tax)
(Advance reservations required for Fiedler concert.)
Advance reservations are recommended for core concerts.
PROGRAM E - EXPRESSIONS OF GENIUS
Our 19th season ends with a brilliant program featuring the music of Hurlstone, Mozart, and Bridge.
The Quintet in G Minor by Hurlstone is for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano. Hurlstone was a born writer of chamber music. His talent shines through in this unique piece.
We couldn't end our June/July festival without Mozart! The Quartet in F Major for oboe, violin, viola, and cello was one of Mozart's earlier works, yet it is one of the finest examples of a wind and strings quartet.
The program ends with a passionate composition by Frank Bridge, an English composer. Written for violin, viola, cello, and piano, this piece is the perfect end for the June/July Festival.
Program E will be performed at the following venues:
Sunday, July 5, 2:00 PM, The Clearing, Ellison Bay
Tuesday, July 7, 7:30 PM, Shepherd of the Bay, Ellison Bay
Wednesday, July 8, 7:30 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ephraim
Adults: $25 per adult (includes tax)
Youth: 17 and under are free
Advance reservations are recommended.
Making a Joyful Noise for 19 Seasons!
Midsummer's Music Ltd.
P.O. Box 1004
Sister Bay, WI 54234
920-854-7088
midsummerSmusic19@gmail.com
www.midsummerSmusic.com
October 16, 2009
A Renaissance Christmas – 2009
NEW PROGRAM - The Twelve Days of Christmas!
Midsummer’s Music is pleased to announce the sixth anniversary season of A Renaissance Christmas, featuring the Chicago Early Music Consort, on December 11, 12, and 13. This year’s venues are Bjorklunden in Baileys Harbor, Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim.
The Consort’s artistic director, Gary Berkenstock, has focused this season’s program around the twelve days of Christmas - that period between the birth of Christ (Christmas, December 25) and the coming of the Magi (Epiphany, January 6). In Renaissance Europe, this period was a time for both religious introspection and unbridled merrymaking. As in past seasons, Gary indicates that “the first half of the program will tell the Christmas story through the joyous carols and songs of the time, while in the second half, there will be songs and dances depicting the fun, feasting and frivolity associated with this time of year.”
Consistent with this year’s theme, the popular song The Twelve Days of Christmas will be performed. This song celebrates the Christmas season with imagery of gifts and dancing and music and was first printed in the 1780 children’s book, Mirth without Mischief. Gary says that “the song is much older than this, and its origins are French and not English; for example, the partridge was not introduced to England from France until the late 1770s.” There is even some intrigue around this song (a la The Da Vinci Code) which Gary promises to reveal during the performances.
Also being introduced this year is the song In Those Twelve Days. This song dates to at least 1625 and assigns religious meanings to each of the days. According to Gary, “there is a strong possibility that this song and The Twelve Days of Christmas are related.” “Both songs may have begun as a Twelfth Night ‘memory-and-forfeits’ game in which the leader cited a verse, each of the players repeated the verse, the leader added another verse, and so on until one of the players made a mistake and consequently had to pay a penalty, such as a kiss or a sweet.”
This year’s performances are sure to be a holiday treat that you and your family and friends won’t want to miss. To add to the fun, Gary will be reporting the 2009 PNC Christmas Price Index (CPI) costs for all the gifts enumerated in The Twelve Days of Christmas (just over $21,000 last year). Gary relates that “early signs point to another dramatic rise in the cost of ‘seven swans a-swimming’!”
There are three opportunities to hear this outstanding ensemble, and at a very reasonable cost. An annual tradition for many, the series opens on Friday, December 11 at Bjorklunden in Baileys Harbor. The event includes a reception, a wonderful dinner by Alexander’s, and the concert at a cost of just $60 per person (tax is included). Advance reservations are required for this event.
The following two concerts have a new surprise this year! For the first time, these events will feature a post-concert reception. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to get together, meet the musicians and learn more about the instruments. Tickets for either of these concerts are $20 per adult, youth 17 and under are free (tax is included). Advance reservations are recommended, although tickets will be available at the door for these two events.
Saturday’s concert is at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay at 7:00 PM. The Sunday afternoon concert at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim at 2:00 PM.
Founded by artistic director, Gary Berkenstock, the Chicago Early Music Consort, (www.ChicagoEarlyMusicConsort.org), recreates the rich and diverse sounds of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque chamber repertoire in an exciting and historically-informed manner. The Consort regularly performs at outstanding venues in Chicago and throughout the Midwest, including multiple live performances on Chicago’s premiere fine arts station, 98.7WFMT. Programs are built around interesting historical and social themes to which modern audiences can easily relate.
Members of the Consort are Stephanie Sheffield, soprano; Gary Berkenstock, recorders, crumhorns, rackett, dulcian and shawm; Joel Spears, lute and theorbo; and Phillip W. Serna, vielle and viols.
