If you enjoy the music of Bach and Handel, our program starting this Wednesday, July 9th, is for you. If you appreciate virtuoso artistry from musicians like David Perry, violin; Heather Zinninger, flute; Mark Shuldiner, harpsichord; you are in for a big treat. If you want to be thrilled by the brilliant singing from one of today’s top sopranos, don’t miss Molly Netter’s rendition of some fabulous arias by Bach and Handel at one of four performances in the next few days. Ms. Netter has recently appeared with the New York Philharmonic, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, and at Carnegie Hall.
“Bach” and “Handel” often appear together in print as if they were twins. This is perhaps justified by the fact that they were truly the greats of their time, and they were born in the same year (1685). In fact, they were born only a little over a month apart and less than 100 miles from one another. However, beyond this point the differences are pretty significant. In their time, Handel was far more famous as a composer. Bach’s reputation among the contemporaries that knew him was as a phenomenal keyboardist and authority on organs. He was often invited to consult with churches under construction as to what type and size of organ they should consider.
Handel was an international figure. He spent several years early in his career in Italy. The bulk of his more mature life was spent in England. This accounts for our knowing him as George instead of Georg, and for the missing umlaut on his last name (Handel instead of Händel). He settled in London in 1712 and became a naturalized citizen in 1727, so he became pretty thoroughly British. Bach, on the other hand, stayed within a fairly narrow radius in Northern Germany.
Handel was very successful, especially because of his operas that he produced in England. They were in the Italian style, which was very popular in London. His oratorios were a subterfuge to produce works during Lent. The law prohibited theatrical performances during Lent, so Handel created oratorios that were not staged and had some kind of religious theme, but in every other regard, they were Italian operas. His most famous oratorio, Messiah, is unique among such works in that it is completely based on biblical text. Most of his other oratorios could easily pass for operas if you put the singers in costume and staged the whole thing.
Bach on the other hand, never wrote an opera. His 300 sacred cantatas were for church services. He did write a very few secular cantatas, and we are going to present a “taste” of one of those that is known as The Coffee Cantata. This is a kind of short comic opera with three characters about a young woman who is addicted to caffeine. It shows us the side of Bach who led a group called the Leipzig Collegium Musicum. It was a group of musicians, founded by Telemann, who met and performed at a coffee house in Leipzig, and Bach took over its leadership when he came to Leipzig. Many of his instrumental works and this cantata were written for this august establishment. It is fitting that Café Zimmermann, the site of the first performance of The Coffee Cantata, was indeed a coffee house. Perhaps it actually helped inspire the work. Soprano Molly Netter will provide us with a sense of the wit in this work with two of the main character’s arias, one of which will include a flute obligato provided by Heather Zinninger. Ms. Netter will also provide some of Handel’s finest and most brilliant coloratura examples in arias from one of his operas and from one of his oratorios.
The two main orchestral works on the program by Bach will feature flutist Heather Zinninger, violinist David Perry, and harpsichordist Mark Shuldiner.
Performances are …
July 9, 7:00 pm – Woodwalk Gallery, Egg Harbor
July 10, 7:00 pm – Peninsula School of Art, Fish Creek
July 12, 7:00 pm – Björklunden, Baileys Harbor
July 13, 4:00 pm – Kress Pavilion, Egg Harbor
For tickets or more information, please call 920-854-7088 or visit www.mindsummersmusic.com. This promises to be some of the most remarkable music making of the summer, so make your reservations soon. We look forward to seeing you there.
AND, if you haven’t made reservations for BIG TOP DOOR COUNTY, go online now and check it out. It is the big celebration of our 35th anniversary on July 16th—outdoors at Berkenfeld under a giant tent with great music, food, beverages, an auction of musical chairs, and a chance to enjoy a very special time. Come celebrate with us!