Mountainside Baroque’s thirteenth full season of concerts—titled THE GREATS: FROM HANDEL TO BACH–will return to its musical roots, with performances of the music of G. F. Handel and J. S. Bach. In addition, there will be a celebration of “Rediscover Cumberland” and the re-opening of downtown with a special concert of the music of Thomas Jefferson’s time, as well as the eleventh edition of its beloved annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. “Mountainside Interactive” will continue this season with the 2nd edition of Chant-Along, led by Bishop Matthew Riegel.
The series will lead off on Sunday, October 6 with George Frideric Handel: A Musical Portrait, a collage of some of the wonderful music from the pen of the Baroque genius, G. F. Handel, including Dixit Dominus, an early masterpiece for choir, soloists and orchestra. A concerto grosso will feature violinists Cynthia Roberts (returning after her virtuosic performance of The Four Seasons last June) and Maria Romeo Ramos with cellist Arnie Tanimoto. In addition, the performance will feature our new digital organ, with Marc Bellassai soloing at the keyboard in an organ concerto from Opus 4 originally performed by Handel himself. The concert will take place at 4:00 pm at the beautiful Shrine of Ss. Peter and Paul, on 125 Fayette Street in Cumberland, and will be preceded at 3:30 pm by an informative talk designed to enhance enjoyment of this timeless music.
On November 15th and 16th, Mountainside is delighted to coordinate with the gala “Rediscover Cumberland” celebration of the newly-revived downtown Cumberland area with Thomas Jefferson: Founder, Musician and Violinist. Thomas Jefferson, the American founding father who established the National Road that originated in Cumberland, was also a music lover and accomplished violinist. Much of his still-existing vast collection of music forms the basis of this concert. Come early to enjoy the Museum’s excellent exhibits of the area’s early history. With Brooke Evers, soprano; Brandi Berry Benson and Caitlin Cribbs violins, Brent Wissick, cello and Lenora McCroskey, keyboards. The two performances of this concert will be on Friday, November 15 at 7:30pm in The Allegany Museum on Pershing Street in Cumberland, and on Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 52 S. Broadway in Frostburg.
A Festival of Lessons and Carols: Favorites Old and New will return for the eleventh time to Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 16 Washington Street in Cumberland on Sunday, December 22 at 5pm. Mountainside Baroque’s popular ecumenical annual gift to the community features the Scholars of St. Cecilia, Mountainside Baroque’s resident chamber choir, led by Mountainside Co-Artistic Directors Ryan Mullaney and Lyle Nordstrom, in a celebration that includes seasonal music, traditional carols, and readings by local clergy and officials. Open to the public, this favorite holiday tradition is not a ticketed event, but donations will be welcomed! The church is handicapped accessible.
The season continues at 4 pm on Sunday, March 23rd at Pealer Recital Hall on the FSU campus, with a very special 2024-2025 concert, Back to Back: Bach to Bach. The compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach are at the heart of the Baroque repertory, providing a richness and variety that could fill a multitude of concerts. For this season’s offering, we have chosen the unforgettable sound of his rarely-heard concerto for three harpsichords, spotlighting three of the best keyboard artists on the East Coast: Marc Bellassai, Elisabeth Wright and Elliot Figg. Coupled with this is his rarely heard cantata 147, which features the well-known chorale, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” No concert of Bach would be complete without tongue-in-cheek music by the oddest of his twenty-odd children, P. D. Q Bach, with his new oratorio, The Seasonings, featuring some of the rarer instruments of the time, such as the recently invented tromboon, andwindbreaker. A concert to be experienced in person!
On Saturday, February 8, 2025, we will offer an additional event, Echoes of the Oratory | Chant-Along #2, that is a continuation of our MBQ INTERACTIVE” initiative, intended as part of Mountainside’s mission to bring the experience of earlier music to our community. This season we’re delighted that MBQ Board Member, Bishop Matthew Rigel, will again lead participants in an engaging experience learning to read and sing Gregorian chant. Scheduled for 3 pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 15 N. Smallwood Street in Cumberland. (Snow date is Saturday, Feb. 22, also at St. Paul’s)
Mountainside Baroque, an early music collective established in Cumberland in 2011 by co-directors Ryan Mullaney and Lyle Nordstrom, is known for its excellent, dynamic performances. It draws some of the finest professional early music specialists from across the country who return to Mountain Maryland for great music and fresh air, features that also attract audiences from around the mid-Atlantic region.
Admission tickets, including special FLEXSAVER PUNCH CARDS, can be purchased in advance at mountainsidebaroque.org, or at the door on the day of the concert. Consult the website for additional performance details and updated program information.
Mountainside Baroque, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is funded in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Allegany Arts Council, the Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund of The Community Trust Foundation, the City of Cumberland, Allegany County and many individual supporters and corporate sponsors.
