So Last Century...

I'm doing something kind of unusual (for me) this Friday: an entire program of contemporary music! Yours truly is appearing with mezzo Sonja Bruzauskas, cellist Erika Johnson, and flautist Daniel Alexander at the Rothko Chapel for a song salon program entitled "So Last Century..." which explores how old instruments are used in contemporary work, how old genres and forms get new sounds, etc. More details at Divas World Productions, the sponsor of this free event. There will be music by David Ashley White, Edmund Rubbra, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, and Samuel Adler, plus wine and cheese and an opportunity for the audience to participate in the discussion following the program. Hope to see some of you there!

Musical Pleasure Garden program postponed

Due to bad weather, the Ars Lyrica/MSM Collegium "Musical Pleasure Garden" program at Bayou Bend has been moved from tomorrow (March 14) to Sunday, March 22 at 5:30 pm. The location remains the same: the lovely grounds at Bayou Bend, which will be just as beautiful on the 22nd, and hopefully rain-free then!

Naxos Scarlatti disc now available online!

I'm delighted to announce that Ars Lyrica's first commercial recording is now available online from Naxos. The official release date is March 31, when the CD will be available in record stores worldwide. You can also purchase one directly from Ars Lyrica at our next event. Stay tuned for news of a CD release party in early April!

Ariadnes at Zilkha Hall

Ars Lyrica's upcoming "Women on the Verge" program this Friday features three different settings of the Ariadne myth, so I thought I'd post a summary of the tale, for those who (like me) need a refresher from time to time about matters ancient and sublime. The painting is Titian's "Bacchus and Ariadne," one of the most famous of the many canvases devoted to this evocative lady. Her story in brief: Having killed the Minotaur in Crete, Ariadne and her lover Theseus flee to Naxos, where they live happily for a while -- that is, until Theseus has to do the "man thing" and get back on his ship and sail away with his army. His departure causes Ariadne much grief, though she eventually weds Dionysus (aka Bacchus in the Roman-influenced painting). Friday's program features three musical settings of this tale, from Monteverdi’s famous Lament, said by a contemporary to have “moved the whole theater to tears,” to a Montéclair cantata and Haydn's well-known dramatic scena.

St Philip Organ Update

Here's the latest pic, from organ builder Paul Fritts, of the instrument his shop is currently building for St Philip Presbyterian Church. It's very exciting to see it under construction, after several years of planning and patiently waiting for our turn in line. Some pics are indeed worth the proverbial thousand words, and this one's worth quite a bit more in actual $$. For more images of the organ case and chests in Paul's Tacoma shop, see St Philip Organ. This gives you an idea of the instrument's size: the side pedal towers and central tower will reach to within a few inches of the ceiling in the St Philip rear gallery. The swell enclosure is visible near the top of the case, as are a few of the walkboards and windchests. Delivery is scheduled for November of this year, so stay tuned for more updates.

Favorite singers on view downtown

For those who haven't yet seen it, the current production of Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Houston Grand Opera is well worth it. It's a charming production and a winning cast, which features two favorite singers: soprano Laura Claycomb and mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand. Laura was around for our New Year's Eve bash (see the photos at ALH New Year's ) and Marie joins us on Feb 20 for "Women on the Verge," singing Haydn's marvelous setting of "Arianna auf Naxos." In the meantime, go catch both of them at the Wortham Center for a gorgeous account of the Britten.

Purcell concert

Houston Early Music patrons were fortunate indeed to have heard last night the viol consort Fretwork, with mezzo-soprano Clare Wilkinson, in a program of Purcell's Fantazias and Songs. I was in heaven: the counterpoint in these pieces is nothing short of stupendous for its time, always interesting and always fresh -- and oftentmes very surprising! And Ms Wilkinson is about as good as it gets in this repertoire. Kudos to Houston Early Music for inviting them to Houston; let's hope they come back soon!