Cancellations Left and Right

The other week, the Met canceled the balance of the 2020-21 season. This week, Philharmonia Baroque canceled everything through April, 2021. As their web site says:

There is no indication that halls will reopen to capacity, we cannot bring guest artists to the U.S. from other countries because borders are closed, and most importantly, it remains unsafe for our musicians and audience.

The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills says:

Last July 30, we shared with you our intended programming for the coming year, full of hope that we would be able to invite you back to our stages in some manner. But we have now determined that The Wallis will not open its two indoor theaters - the Bram Goldsmith and the Lovelace Studio Theaters - prior to September 1, 2021, due to the current state of the viral pandemic, local and county health and safety regulations and significant economic sensitivities. Naturally, this is heartbreaking for all of us, but we do not foresee a viable way to make indoor live performances work safely and economically at this time.

I'm sorry to say that we should expect a lot more of this in the next few weeks. I will be very surprised if San Francisco Opera's planned spring performances (Barber of Seville, Der Zwerg, and concerts with Lianna Haroutounian and Irene Theorin) take place as planned. I mean, maybe the concerts could be done outdoors someplace, if the singers are able to travel here and then travel to their respective homes.

 

Philharmonia Baroque & Nic McGegan's Final Season There

Famed conductor Nic McGegan's last season conducting Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is coming up, and it is a fine one, including a production at Versailles! I heard about this in advance of the announcement, when I visited Versailles in February, but there was an embargo on the information at the time.

Anyway, here is the season; note that Leclair’s Scylla et Glaucus includes many of the same people involved with Le Temple de la Gloire and also the great Veronique Gens.

A Cosmic Notion

October 17–20, 2019

SHAW The Listeners

HANDEL Eternal Source of Light Divine

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Arwen Myers, soprano

Avery Amereau, contralto

Reginald Mobley, countertenor

Dashon Burton, bass-baritone

Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

Thursday October 17 @ 8 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Friday October 18 @ 7:30 pm | First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Saturday October 19 @ 8 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday October 20 @ 4 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Mozart’s Musings

November 13–17, 2019

MOZART Overture to La finta semplice, K. 51

GRÉTRY Orchestral suite from Zémire et Azor

MOZART Concerto for Oboe in C major, K. 314

MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550

Jeannette Sorrell, conductor

Gonzalo X. Ruiz, oboe

Wednesday November 13 @ 7:30 pm | Bing Concert Hall, Stanford

Friday November 15 @ 8 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday November 15 @ 8 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday November 17 @ 4 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus

December 5–8, 2019

HANDEL Judas Maccabaeus

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Robin Johannsen, soprano (Israelitish Woman)

Sara Couden, mezzo-soprano (Israelitish Man)

Nicholas Phan, tenor (Judas Maccabaeus)

Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

Thursday December 5 @ 7 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Friday December 6 @ 7:30 pm | First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Saturday December 7 @ 7 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday December 8 @ 4 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo

January 22–February 1, 2020

HANDEL Acis, Galatea e Polifemo

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Lauren Snouffer, soprano (Aci)

Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor (Galatea)

Davóne Tines, bass-baritone (Polifemo)

Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players

Christopher Alden, stage direction

Mark Grey, sound & video design

JAX Messenger, lighting design

Terese Wadden, costume design

Paul Tate dePoo III, set design

OPENING NIGHT GALA PERFORMANCE

Wednesday, January 22 @ 8 pm | Diane Wilsey Center for Opera, San Francisco

Friday January 24 @ 8 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

Saturday January 25 @ 8 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

Sunday January 26 @ 3 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

Wednesday January 29 @ 8 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

Friday January 31 @ 8 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

Saturday February 1 @ 8 pm | ODC Theater, San Francisco

These performances are not part of the regular subscription season and must be purchased separately.

The Well-Caffeinated Clavier

February 7–12, 2020

BACH Harpsichord Concerto No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1058

BACH Cantata No. 211, Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211, “Coffee Cantata”

BACH Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052

BACH Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068

Richard Egarr, conductor & harpsichord

Nola Richardson, soprano

James Reese, tenor

Cody Quattlebaum, bass-baritone

Romantic Reflections

March 11–15, 2020

CHERUBINI Overture to Démophoon

MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

SCHUBERT Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, “The Great”

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Alana Youssefian, violin

Wednesday March 11 @ 7:30 pm | Bing Concert Hall, Palo Alto

Friday March 13 @ 8 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday March 14 @ 8 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday March 15 @ 4 pm | First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Leclair’s Scylla et Glaucus

April 15–19, 2020

LECLAIR Scylla et Glaucus

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Chantal Santon, soprano (Scylla)

Aaron Sheehan, haute-contre (Glaucus)

Véronique Gens, soprano (Circé)

Judith van Wanroij, soprano (Vénus, Témire, Dorine)

Douglas Williams, baritone (Licas)

New York Baroque Dance Company

Les Chantres de la Maîtrise du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles

Catherine Turocy, stage direction & choreography

Marie Anne Chiment, costume design

Pierre Dupouey, lighting & set design

A co-production of Centre de musique baroque de Versailles and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale

Wednesday April 15 @ 7 pm | Herst Theatre, San Francisco

Friday April 17 @ 7 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday April 18 @ 7 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Sunday April 19 @ 3 pm | Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Le Temple de la Gloire, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, PBO Chorus, New York Baroque Dance Company and Many Individuals

I saw the first performance of PBO & Friends' short run of Rameau's Le Temple de la Gloire, with libretto by Voltaire, on Friday night, April 28. Cal Performances presented it at Zellerbach Hall, one of their venues on the UCB Campus. 

Oh, man - it was a huge amount of fun. I've seen a fair amount of Baroque opera, most of it Handel with several Monteverdi productions thrown in for good measure. This was my first experience of French Baroque opera; not only that, French Baroque opera presented with an intention of getting somewhere near French Baroque production style. The Handel and Monteverdi operas were all presented in varying degrees of modern style, the better to avoid a completely static production. This was...different, in good ways.

The PBO forces had Baroque-style sets, Baroque-style ballet, and Baroque-style movement. That is, the singers used a vocabulary of fairly stylized physical gestures; the dancers didn't get very far off the ground. The dance vocabulary was more limited than today's ballet and didn't call for the same extreme physical technique. The sets were a hoot; an assortment of painted flats flown in and moved in and out from the sides.

Aaron Sheehan as Apollo in PBO’s Le Temple de la Gloire, by Rameau. Photo by Frank Wing.

The music was terrific and mostly very beautifully performed; yay, Nicholas McGegan, who brings life and joy to all he conducts. I loved the dancing and the dancers from the NY Baroque Dance Company, and there was a lot more dancing than you'd find in more recent, say, 19th c., operas.

The singing was mostly excellent, with some variation of voice size and flexibility. I especially liked soprano Chantal Santon-Jeffery, who has a big, glamorous voice, Philippe-Nicolas Martin, who has a gorgeous baritone voice and would make a fine Chorebe, and Camille Ortiz-Lafont, whose dark and beautiful mezzo lent considerable character to Act 2.

Artavazd Sargsyan as Bacchus and Camille Ortiz-Lafont as Erigone in PBO’s Le Temple de la Gloire, by Rameau. Photo by Frank Wing.

As for the plot...well, there isn't exactly a plot. It's about how to be a good ruler and be admitted to the Temple of Glory. During the opera, three different rulers try to gain entrance, and two fail. This was aimed directly at Louis XV, the French king of the time. It didn't matter much, and of course there was the fabulous dancing ostrich. (You can see photos of her on Twitter; thank you, PBO! And thank you, Cal Performances, for access to the press photos.)

PBO’s Nic McGegan with NYBDC’s Catherine Turocy (center in black) with the cast of Le Temple de la Gloire,  by Rameau. Photo by Frank Wing. 

The curtain call photo above gives the best idea of the style and scope of the sets. I believe that if you click it, you'll be able to see a larger version.

I'm very glad to have seen this, and let me note that somehow I hear a through-line in the vocal declamation from Rameau to Gluck to Berlioz. I hope to see more Rameau, and this particular public Twitter exchange suggests that we just might:

Let's just say that I hope the Board of Directors of San Francisco Opera was in attendance at Le Temple de la Gloire and that they agree with their General Director that SFO needs to stage some Rameau.

Other Commentary (Yes, I know the last several are coming):

• Joshua Kosman, Chron (His review has photos.)
• Opera Tattler
• Georgia Rowe, Mercury-News
• Ilana Walder-Beseitz, Bachtrack
• Janos Gereben, CVNA
• Steven Winn, SFCV
• Allan Ulrich, FT

A preview by Georgia Rowe, Mercury-News; another by Charlise Tiee at KQED; another, by Lou Fancher, at SFCV.

Further Changes of Venue: First Congregational Church Fire Edition

As anyone who attends or performs in classical music concerts in the East Bay must know by now, First Congregational Church of Berkeley, a much-loved performance venue with a thriving worship community, suffered a serious fire last week. One of the buildings on the campus has been condemned. The sanctuary and its musical instruments, including a most impressive organ, survived, but the extent of the damage to the building is not yet known.

Many performing organizations and presenters are affected by this, because they had concerts planned for this season.

• New Century Chamber Orchestra
• Volti / Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
• Philharmonia Baroque
• California Bach Society
• Chora Nova
• American Bach Soloists
• Cal Performances
• Chanticleer
• San Francisco Chamber Orchestra

The San Francisco Early Music Society uses First Congo during the Berkeley Festival & Exhibition [of Early Music], which is held in alternate years. They will not be affected until 2018, but we do not yet know how long it will be until the church will be available for concerts and the Festival's ancillary events, some of which are also put on there.

UPDATED: Wednesday, January 4, 2017

American Bach Soloists is moving all of their winter and spring 2017 programs to First Presbyterian, which is diagonally across the street from First Congregational, at the corner of Channing and Dana in Berkeley. Here's their very gracious announcement:

As you may know, our Berkeley home, First Congregational Church, suffered extensive fire damage last fall and the groups who use the facility to perform concerts have been looking for temporary homes for the 2017 season. Many people, including the staff of First Congregational, had hoped to be back in the facilities by now, but that is not the case. So, for the 2017 winter and spring season, American Bach Soloists have moved their performances across the street to First Presbyterian Church (2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA). We have every hope that we will return to First Congregational in 2018!

We are grateful to First Presbyterian Church for opening their doors to us, we are especially supportive of the congregation and staff of First Congregational Church during this difficult period, and we are grateful to you for your understanding in this endeavor.

UPDATED: Monday, October 17, 2016

More changes of venue:

• Chora Nova will perform their Sunday, November 20 program, including Haydn's Mass in Time of War, at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, Channing & Dana, diagonally across the street from FCCB. The concert is at 4 p.m. and also includes music by Mozart.
• Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra will perform on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley. Other Saturday concerts during the season will take place at First Presbyterian Church (see above). Sunday concerts originally scheduled for FCCB will take place at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church in Lafayette.

I have the first two venue changes in hand.

• Volti / Left Coast will perform their Winges, Janáček, Lang, Türkmen program at 7:30, October 15, at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. This is diagonally across the street from First Congo.
• Cal Bach will perform Bach's St. Matthew Passion at UC Berkeley’s Hertz Hall at 3:30 pm on October 9.

UPDATED: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, twice. Thanks to Joshua Kosman for an addition and correction; thanks to Tod Brody for an addition.

Non-Renewal

Just sent email to the SFO subscription department:

Dear Ms. [representative], 

Thank you again. I have decided not to renew my subscription in any way, shape, or form. That is the best way I know to tell SF Opera how unhappy I am with the upcoming season, which has uninteresting repertory choices and (mostly) disappointing casting. 

I will buy single seats or go standing room to those operas I want to see.

The money don't spend at SFO is going to Philharmonia Baroque and West Edge Opera. I will re-up at SFO when there's a season of interest.

Season Announcement Season: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra announced their 2012-13 season this week, and it's a wow. Manny Ax playing Beethoven 4....on a foretepiano! All-Purcell program! Handel's Teseo! And more. Who could resist?

Here are the details (and by the way, their upcoming Alexander's Feast looks great):

Wednesday 3 October          The Center for Performing Arts, Atherton (8 PM) Friday 5 October                  Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (8 PM) Saturday 6 October              First Congregational Church, Berkeley (8 PM) Sunday 7 October                 First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director Clifton Massey, countertenor Soloists from the Philharmonia Chorale PURCELL: Come Ye Sons of Art, Z. 323 PURCELL: Dioclesian, Z. 627 Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wednesday 7 November       Mondavi Center, Davis (8 PM) Thursday 8 November          The Center for Performing Arts, Atherton (8 PM) Friday 9 November               Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (8 PM) Saturday 10 November         First Congregational Church, Berkeley (8 PM) Sunday 11 November           First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Emanuel Ax, fortepiano BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 BEETHOVEN: Twelve Contredanses for Orchestra, WoO 14 BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60 Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Saturday 8 December           First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7 PM) Masaaki Suzuki, conductor Sherezade Panthaki, soprano Fabiana González, mezzo-soprano Dann Coakwell, tenor Dashon Burton, bass-baritone Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, Director HANDEL: Messiah Presented by Cal Performances Sunday 9 December             Green Music Center, Rohnert Park (3 PM) Masaaki Suzuki, conductor Sherezade Panthaki, soprano Fabiana González, mezzo-soprano Dann Coakwell, tenor Dashon Burton, bass-baritone Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, Director HANDEL: Messiah Presented by Sonoma State University ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thursday 13 December        The Center for Performing Arts, Atherton (8 PM) Friday 14 December             Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (8 PM) Saturday 15 December         First Congregational Church, Berkeley (8 PM) Sunday 16 December           First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Masaaki Suzuki, conductor Soloists from Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music Sherezade Panthaki, soprano Fabiana González, mezzo-soprano Dann Coakwell, tenor Dashon Burton, bass-baritone Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, Director BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 BACH: Cantata No. 63 Christen, äzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 BACH: Magnificat in E-flat major, BWV 243a Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Saturday 12 January                        MCASD Sherwood Auditorium, La Jolla (8 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin CORELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 7 in D major PERGOLESI: Sinfonia in F major VIVALDI: Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons] LOCATELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 7, No. 6 in E-flat major, “Il pianto d’Arianna” DURANTE: Concerto No. 5 in A major Presented by La Jolla Music Society Sunday 13 January                           Sunset Center, Carmel (8 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin CORELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 7 in D major PERGOLESI: Sinfonia in F major VIVALDI: Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons] LOCATELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 7, No. 6 in E-flat major, “Il pianto d’Arianna” DURANTE: Concerto No. 5 in A major Presented by Carmel Music Society Wednesday 16 January                       Bing Concert Hall, Stanford (8 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin CORELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 7 in D major PERGOLESI: Sinfonia in F major VIVALDI: Le quattro stagioni [The Four Seasons] LOCATELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 7, No. 6 in E-flat major, “Il pianto d’Arianna” DURANTE: Concerto No. 5 in A major Presented by Stanford University ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wednesday 13 February      Bing Concert Hall, Stanford (8 PM) Friday 15 February              Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (8 PM) Saturday 16 February          First Congregational Church, Berkeley (8 PM) Sunday 17 February            First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Marc Schachman, oboe Danny Bond, bassoon HAYDN: Symphony No. 44 in E minor “Trauer” J.C. BACH: Sinfonia Concertante for Oboe and Bassoon in F major, T. 287/2 J.C. BACH: Symphony Op. 6, No. 6 in G minor, T. 265/7 MOZART: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201 Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Friday 15 March                   Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (8 PM) Saturday 16 March              First Congregational Church, Berkeley (8 PM) Sunday 17 March                 First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Wednesday 20 March          Bing Concert Hall, Stanford (8 PM) Rachel Podger, violin and leader CORELLI: Concerto Grosso Op. 6, No. 1 in D major VIVALDI: Concerto for Violin Op. 9, No. 6 in A major “La cetra” MOSSI: Concerto for Four Violins Op. 4, No. 12 in G minor VIVALDI: Concerto for Two Violins Op. 3, No. 5 in A major, RV 519 PERGOLESI: Concerto for Violin in B-flat major LOCATELLI: Concerto for Four Violins in F major, Op. 4, No. 12 Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wednesday 10 April             The Center for Performing Arts, Atherton (7:30 PM) Thursday 11 April                Herbst Theatre, San Francisco (7:30 PM) Saturday 13 April                 First Congregational Church, Berkeley (7:30 PM) Sunday 14 April                    First Congregational Church, Berkeley (4 PM) Nicholas McGegan, conductor Amanda Forsythe, soprano (Teseo) Dominique Labelle, soprano (Medea) Amy Freston, soprano (Agilea) Céline Ricci, soprano (Clizia) Robin Blaze, countertenor (Arcane) Drew Minter, countertenor (Egeo) HANDEL: Teseo Pre-concert talk begins 45 minutes prior to each concert.

PBO Genius

Philharmonia Baroque has a great idea, which I read about 2 minutes ago:

Toasting a Natural Combination: Beer and Baroque

PBO is proud to announce the first concert of our "Beer and Baroque" Series, featuring the Horns of PBO. Discover the joy (and quirks) of the natural horn with an evening of Baroque music and locally brewed beer. Join us at the Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery and Restaurantin Berkeley on September 14. Tickets include the concert and drinks and are available beginning next Friday, August 14 by contacting Office Manager Kenton Kuwada, (415) 252-1288. $20 advance/$25 door.

Organized by board members Michael Colbruno and Brian Gould, this event is sponsored by Pyramid and Clear Channel Outdoors.

What I like about this: music, informal setting, low prices, beer. I wonder if you get to talk to the players afterward. I mean, any horn player will want a drink after the concert.