PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Daniel Cullen, Director of Communications
Phone: 510-831-3077
Email: communications@sfems.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 28, 2023
RACHEL BARTON PINE & JORY VINIKOUR TO THRILL AUDIENCES WITH ALL-BACH PROGRAM PRESENTED BY THE SAN FRANCISCO EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY
San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco Early Music Society is proud to reunite violinist Rachel Barton Pine and harpsichordist Jory Vinikour in an all-Bach program of sonatas and partitas. Scheduled for April 5–7 in Palo Alto, Berkeley, and San Francisco, SFEMS’ season finale features two masterful interpreters of late Baroque music playing in three intimate venues.
American concert violinist Rachel Barton Pine is hailed as a leading interpreter of classical masterworks, captivating international audiences with her dazzling technique, lustrous tone, and emotional honesty. Described by The Washington Post as “an exciting, boundary-defying performer,” Pine’s poise and confidence place her in the top echelon of musicians, setting her apart as a true virtuoso in the classical music world.
“You think you’ve explored all of its depths, and you return to it once more and find yet more stuff,” Pine remarked about this program.
Joining Pine on this musical adventure is the exceptional American harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, recognized as one of the outstanding players of his generation. With a repertoire ranging from Bach to Poulenc, Vinikour’s performances are marked by technical precision and emotional depth, captivating audiences with his artistry and versatility.
The concert will feature an iconic selection of Johann Sebastian Bach’s works, including the Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin—featuring Bach’s monumental “Chaconne”— and the equally majestic French Overture in B Minor, the rarely-heard companion piece to Bach’s Italian Concerto.
“Bach speaks to our highest self, whether we’re speaking of ourselves as human beings on this planet, but especially to all of us as musicians,” Vinikour said.
This season, SFEMS launched a pay-what-you-can ticketing model, becoming the largest classical music organization in the Bay Area to embrace this radical approach to creating greater accessibility to the arts. SFEMS will continue this bold approach in the summer with the internationally-renowned Berkeley Festival & Exhibition of early music, scheduled for June 9–16.
Last year, individual tickets were $55–$65. For this year, we suggest a ticket price between $30 and $40 per ticket; attendees are encouraged to pay more if they can.
Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness two exceptional artists at the peak of their careers as they breathe new life into Bach’s sublime compositions.
For more information, or to purchase individual tickets, visit https://www.sfems.org.
WHEN & WHERE:
Friday, April 5, 7:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper Street at Lincoln, Palo Alto
Saturday, April 6, 7:30 PM
First Church Berkeley UCC (First Congregational)
2345 Channing Way
Sunday, April 7, 4:00 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco
Experience the magic of Rachel Barton Pine and Jory Vinikour as they transport you through the timeless beauty of Bach’s compositions in an evening that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
ABOUT SFEMS
Founded in 1975, the San Francisco Early Music Society is the Bay Area’s portal for early music, promoting engagement with historically informed performance spanning centuries and cultures, and creating a community reflective of our region’s diversity. Through concerts, educational programming, and other support services, SFEMS plays a major role in making the Bay Area one of North America’s preeminent hubs of historically informed performance.
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