Whidbey Island Music Festival: Bach's Coffee Cantata – An Afternoon at Café Zimmerman

• Jean Bernard Cerin, baritone
• Michele Kennedy, soprano
• Alan Wheaton, tenor
• Anthony Allen, baroque flute
• Tekla Cunningham, baroque violin
• Steve Creswell, viola
• Elisabeth Reed, baroque cello
• Farley Pierce, violone
• Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord

Johann Sebastian Bach was the Leipzig town council's third choice to succeed Johann Kuhnau as cantor of the St. Thomas Church. In addition to composing music for the church, Bach composed secular works to be performed by his Collegium Musicum at Café Zimmerman. This program includes works by Telemann (founder of the Collegium Musicum) and Christoph Graupner – the 1st and 2nd choices for the post that Bach occupied for the rest of his life. Both were far better known in their lifetimes than Bach ever was, and both were prolific composers of music of the highest quality. The Graupner suite is written in a very French style, and the Telemann concerto is extremely Italiante.

Coffeehouses were relatively new developments in Europe in the 18th Century. The first coffee house in Europe was in Vienna. After the Turkish army was defeated following the siege of Vienna in 1683, the departing Turks left bags of green coffee beans behind. Franz Georg Kulczycki had learned how to roast, grind, and prepare the beverage and became the proprietor of Vienna's first coffee house. The caffeinated beverage quickly became the rage across Europe, inspiring delight in some and concern in others. Bach's delightful coffee comic opera tells the age-old story of a child rebelling against the parent. Lieschen, the daughter, wants to drink coffee all day long, while her father tries to bribe her into giving up coffee by finding her a nice husband. This comic side of Bach is great entertainment for all! 

With a very special pre-concert show from Seattle Historical Arts for Kids from 2:15-2:45

About Whidbey Island Music Festival

http://whidbeyislandmusicfestival.org/

About Jean Bernard Cerin, baritone

https://www.jeanbernardcerin.com/

About Michele Kennedy, soprano

https://www.michele-kennedy.com/

About Alan Wheaton, tenor

Alan Wheaton is an active professional tenor in the Seattle area. In addition to his freelance work, Alan serves as a section leader at Christ Episcopal Church and a regular singer for the Dickens Carolers. He is also past member and cantor with the St. Mark’s Compline Choir.

About Tekla Cunningham, baroque violin

Baroque violinist Tekla Cunningham delights in bringing the music of the baroque, classical and romantic eras to life with vivid and expressive historically informed performances.

Praised as "a consummate musician whose flowing solos and musical gestures are a joy to watch", her performances have been described as "ravishingly beautiful" and "stellar". Her greatest musical love is music of the baroque and chamber music of all stripes, though she can’t seem to quit Johannes Brahms. She is co-artistic director of Pacific MusicWorks in Seattle, artist-in-residence at the University of Washington and founder and director of the Whidbey Island Music Festival.

Tekla plays regularly as concertmaster and principal player with the American Bach Soloists. Her new release 'Stylus Phantasticus' with Pacific MusicWorks is delighting critics. "Tekla is a marvel…an endlessly songful bird". Early Music America describes the recording as "played with verve, the music presented here reaffirms the old notion that instrumental music can have the flair of any theatrical spectacle. … a stellar vessel for the boldest showmanship".

Tekla plays on a violin made by Sanctus Seraphin in Venice in 1746.

About Steve Creswell, viola

Steve Creswell, viola and violin, believes in the nurturing power of the musical project. Originally from the Midwest, Steve has lived for 20-plus years in the Pacific NW and treasures many experiences with audiences and small ensembles here, from the North Corner Chamber Orchestra to baroque orchestras in Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. Steve has toured with groups including La Monica from LA and Opera Lafayette in Washington, DC and New York. More locally he has collaborated with the Lafayettte Quartet (no direct relation to Opera) and has devoted countless hours to musical education for young people in programs in and out of the school districts.

About Elisabeth Reed, baroque cello

http://elisabethreed.com/

About Farley Pierce, violone

Farley Pearce is a performer on both the various sizes of viola da gamba and the baroque cello. As a cellist he has performed widely in the Southeastern region of the US, most notably with the Spoleto Festival, with whom he has also played in Italy. For five years he was a member of the Charleston Pro Musica, and he has performed as a recitalist in Brazil and Uruguay. Since moving to San Francisco Farley has been an active free-lance performer with many of California’s orchestras and chamber ensembles. In the Bay Area he has performed on viola da gamba, violone, and baroque cello with Magnificat, the Jubilate Baroque Orchestra, the Sex Chordæ Consort of Viols, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Airs and Graces, and many other period instrument groups.

About Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord

https://www.henrylebedinsky.com/