Bellingham Symphony Orchestra: Women of the Baroque
$15-$42 (youth/student discounts available, see event description)
- Maya Kherani, soprano
- Byron Schenkman, harpsichord
- August "Gus" Denhard, theorbo
- Dawn Posey, violin & leader
Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre — Trio Sonata No. 2 for Two Violins and Basso Continuo in B-flat major (arr. Nicola Canzano)
Amélie-Julie Candeille — Keyboard Concerto in D major, Op. 2
Barbara Strozzi — Lagrime mie
Barbara Strozzi — Che si può fare
Maddalena Laura Sirmen (Lombardini) — Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 3, No. 3
Enjoy an "unconducted" program, led by Concertmaster Dawn Posey and featuring works by Marianna Martines, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Julie Candeille, Barbara Strozzi, and Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen. Every piece on the program is written by a woman from the baroque and early classical periods.
In the first half, we'll be performing Marianna Martines' Symphony in C major. Marianna Martines (1744- 1812) was a renowned singer, harpsichord player, and composer in mid-18th-century Vienna. A peer of Haydn and Mozart, Martines composed over 200 works. Light and rhythmic, the Symphony in C major is Martines' only symphony and was composed when she was just 24 years old. This is the first known symphony written by a female composer during this time. Martines owes her Spanish-sounding last name to her paternal grandfather who was a Spanish soldier.
Next, you'll hear Gus Denhard join on the theorbo for Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's Sonata No. 2 for Two Violins and Basso Continuo in B-flat major, arranged by N. Canzano. Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729) was a child prodigy and the first French woman to write an opera.
Then, we will be joined by esteemed harpsichordist Byron Schenkman for Julie Candeille's Keyboard Concerto in D major, Op. 2. French composer and child prodigy, Julie Candeille (1767-1834) also played the harpsichord and composed a number of works for the instrument, which are celebrated as virtuosic and melodic.
In the second half, Soprano Maya Kherani will join the strings for two works by Barbara Strozzi: Lagrime Mie (translated as "My Tears, Lament") and Che Si Può Fare (translated as "What can you do"). Born in Venice, Strozzi was considered one of the most prolific composers of her time, and these two works are achingly beautiful. Indian-American soprano Maya Kherani has been lauded for her vibrant voice and exciting characterizations in repertoire from the Baroque to the modern. San Francisco Classical Voice recognizes her as "obviously an enormous talent" and the Boston Music Intelligencer applauds her performances as evoking "the sparkling effervescence of a fine champagne."
Finally, violinist Dawn Posey will close out the program with Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen’s Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 3, No. 3. Magdalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen (1745-1818) was a successful violinist and composer in Georgian England. She studied with the virtuoso Tartini, initiating contact herself at age 14. She wrote several string quartets, violin concertos, trios, and violin duets.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from these incredible composers who you may not have encountered before. This will be an afternoon to remember!
A Pre-Concert Lecture about the program will take place at 2:15pm in the Walton Theatre. Doors open at 2pm and seating is limited, so please plan accordingly. These lectures are free for ticket-holders.
Looking for a more affordable way to experience the symphony? This concert qualifies for Classical Kids, Take-A-Teen, and Student Rush ticket discounts. Visit https://www.bellinghamsymphony.org/visit-us/ticket-discounts to learn more!
About Maya Kherani, soprano
About Byron Schenkman, harpsichord
About August "Gus" Denhard, theorbo
About Dawn Posey, violin & leader
Dawn Posey is an active international chamber musician, teacher and performer. She has performed with the Boston Conservatory Honors Quartet, Festival A Tempo in Caracas, Venezuela, the Chamber Music Festival of Amman, Jordan, Blossom Music Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center. Additionally, she has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Washington, Missouri, Indiana, and England. She is a founding member of Kassia Ensemble, a mixed instrumentation chamber ensemble based in Pittsburgh made up entirely of female performers. Kassia Ensemble seeks to empower women through quality performance, collaboration, and outreach.
Dawn is a devotee of baroque performance practice, and a frequent guest artist with Chatham Baroque. She has toured with the ensemble to Ecuador and Los Angeles. Dawn was also a participant in the 2015 Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute.
Dawn received the Starling Scholarship at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where her primary teacher was Dr. Won-Bin Yim. She has also studied with the late renowned string pedagogue, Miss Dorothy Delay, at Aspen Music Festival, Lynn Chang at the Boston Conservatory, Mrs. Almita Vamos in Chicago, and with concert violinist Rachel Barton Pine.
Dawn has been a member of the violin faculty at the Sherwood Conservatory, the Merit School of Music, the University of Evansville, St. Vincent College, and Slippery Rock University, and the Pittsburgh Music Academy. In Evansville, Dawn was the second violinist with the Eykamp String Quartet and Associate Concertmaster with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. She has served as assistant concertmaster with both the Youngstown Symphony and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She has also held the positions of associate principal second violin with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Principal Second Violin of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and principal second violin with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Orchestra. Most recently, Dawn has been appointed Concertmaster with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra and assistant concertmaster of the Northwest Sinfonietta.
http://www.poseyviolin.com/