For a series devoted to ‘neglected figures from Irish musical history,’ Peter Whelan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra unearthed a 1767 program sung by Rachel Baptist, billed as a ‘Black Syren.’ On this lovely recording, soprano Rachel Redmond and the orchestra inhabit Baptist’s world, making ‘a connection through the centuries.’
Rachel Baptist, Ireland’s ‘Black Syren’ Read More »
Separated by 350 years and an ocean apart, Cuban and Chilean songwriters in the 20th century used some of the same compositional devices as Monteverdi and Purcell. Tenor Nicholas Mulroy’s latest work connects the European Baroque with Latin America in a pleasing, ear-expanding album.
De Pasión Mortal: Latin Pop Meets Purcell Read More »
Last month, EMA published John Koster’s review of Stewart Pollen’s book A History of Stringed Keyboard Instruments. In the review, Koster wrote that the ‘book is beset with numerous problems.’ In reply, author Pollens sent EMA a Letter to the Editor.
To the Editor: Stewart Pollens responds to John Koster’s Review Read More »
Early-music presenting organizations mostly hire touring ensembles. Yet many programs that foster the next generation focus on talented individual musicians. So Arizona Early Music created the Emerging Ensemble Residency, where a young group is set up with a mentor and works on both performance and the business of being a professional touring ensemble. The inaugural award goes to Montreal’s Le Consort laurentien, whose residency starts this month.
Nurturing New Ensembles in the Arizona Desert Read More »
Handel’s operas tell vivid stories in a complex, even idiosyncratic, manner that is not readily apparent even to a passionate Handelian. This brilliant book offers an eloquent account of the underlying processes at work, calling on broad examples — including classical literature, Shakespeare, novels, film — of the same narrative strategies.
Hidden Narratives in Handel Operas Read More »
