The Aston Magna Festival’s 2011 schedule includes a series of concerts featuring music that ranges from the 15th century to the early 20th century, to be performed at Brandeis University, Bard College, and Simon’s Rock College. In addition to concerts, Artistic Director and violinist Daniel Stepner will offer sessions on Bach’s works for unaccompanied violin to both modern and baroque violinists, and Stephen Hammer, oboe, and Eric Hoeprich, clarinet, will offer sessions on Mozart’s wind instruments, June 19-24 at Brandeis. (Brandeis Workshop details).
Aston Magna – June 16-18, 2011 – Bach and Son
Bach and Son – Music for violin and harpsichord by J.S. and C.P.E. Bach – J.S. Bach, Sonatas for keyboard and violin in E Major and G Major, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, Sonata for solo violin in A Minor, and C.P. E. Bach’s duo sonata in C Minor. Daniel Stepner, baroque violin; John Gibbons, harpsichord
- June 16, 8:00 P.M.*: Slosberg Auditorium, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- June 17, 8:00 P.M.*: The Olin Auditorium, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
- June 18, 6:00 P.M.*: The Daniel Arts Center, Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, MA
- *Pre-concert lecture one hour before concert time at all venues.
On June 16, 17, and 18 Mr. Stepner will be joined by harpsichordist John Gibbons for a program dedicated to music by J.S. Bach and one of his most successful sons, C.P.E. Bach. Sebastian’s works will dominate the program with his sonatas for keyboard and violin in E major and G major. The soloists will also join in a performance of Emanuel’s Duo sonata in C minor. Also on the program are the Chromatic fantasy and fugue, and the sonata for solo violin in A minor.
Aston Magna – June 23-25, 2011 – Diversions: Mozart and Hummel
Diversions: Mozart and Hummel – Mozart’s Horn Quintet; Divertimento for oboe, horns and strings; and A Musical Joke; J.N. Hummel’s Clarinet Quartet. Stephen Hammer, classical oboe; Eric Hoeprich, basset clarinet; Richard Menaul, horn; Frederick Aldrich, horn; Daniel Stepner and Julie Leven, classical violins; David Miller, classical viola; Loretta O’Sullivan, classical cello; Anne Trout, contrabass
- June 23, 8:00 P.M.*: Slosberg Auditorium, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- June 24, 8:00 P.M.*: The Olin Auditorium, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
- June 25, 6:00 P.M.*: The Daniel Arts Center, Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, MA
- *Pre-concert lecture one hour before concert time at all venues.
The Festival will continue on June 23, 24, and 25 with chamber music for winds and strings by Mozart and Johan Nepomuk Hummel. Clarinetist Eric Hoeprich will return for a pleasant program including Mozart’s Musical Joke; the horn quintet, K. 407; and the divertimento in D major, K. 251. Also on the program will be Hummel’s clarinet quartet, which first appeared in modern edition in 1958. Other artists will include Stephen Hammer on oboe and Richard Menaul and Frederick Aldrich on horn. String players will included Mr. Stepner and Julie Leven on violin, David Miller on viola, Loretta O’Sulllivan on cello, and Anne Trout on double bass.
Aston Magna – June 30-July 2, 2011 – England, Be Glad
England, Be Glad – Music from the cosmopolitan court of Henry VIII. Aaron Sheehan, tenor; Laura Jeppesen, Jane Hershey, Emily Walhout, Sarah Cunningham, viols. (Program details – PDF)
- June 30, 8:00 P.M.*: Slosberg Auditorium, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
- July 1, 8:00 P.M.*: The Olin Auditorium, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
- July 2, 6:00 P.M.*: The Daniel Arts Center, Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, MA
- *Pre-concert lectures one hour before concert time at all venues
For its third program, on June 30, July 1, and July 2, Aston Magna will reach a bit into the past, to the court of the English King Henry VIII. The program will even include works by the notorious ruler, in addition to music by Hayne van Ghizeghem, Josquin des Prez, Heinrich Isaac, John Cornysh, Ludwig Senfl, and Jo. de Vyzeto. Tenor Aaron Sheehan will be joined by Sarah Cunningham, Jane Hershey, Laura Jeppesen, and Emily Walhout, viols.
Aston Magna – July 8 & 9, 2011 – The Italian Madrigal and its legacy
The Italian Madrigal and its legacy – A capella masterworks through four centuries. Music of Monteverdi, Gesualdo, Rossi, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, P.D.Q. Bach, Glenn Gould, and Peter Lutkin. Roberta Anderson and Kristen Watson, sopranos; Gerrod Pagenkopf, counter tenor; William Hite and Frank Kelley, tenors; David Ripley, bass; Laura Jeppesen, gamba; Catherine Liddell, theorbo; Daniel Stepner, director, violin. (Program details – PDF).
- July 8, 8:00 P.M.*: The Olin Auditorium, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
- July 9, 6:00 P.M.*: The Daniel Arts Center, Simon’s Rock College, Great Barrington, MA
- *Pre-concert lectures one hour before concert time at both venues
The final concert of the 2011 Festival, on July 8 and 9, will include an unusual breadth of madrigal styles (for Aston Magna). “The Italian Madrigal and it Legacy” will present a capella masterworks through four centuries. Beginning with some of the brilliant vocal works of Carlo Gesualdo, Salamone Rossi, and Claudio Monteverdi, the program will conclude with choice compositions by Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Glenn Gould, Peter Schikele, and Peter Lutkin. Sopranos Roberta Anderson and Kristin Watson, countertenor Gerrod Pagekopf, tenors William Hite and Frank Kelley, and bass David Ripley, Laura Jeppesen, gamba; Catherine Liddell, theorbo and Daniel Stepner, violin will perform this wide range of music.
Aston Magna Festival – 2011 tickets
- Aston Magna Festival – Daniel Arts Center
- Aston Magna Festival – Olin Auditorium
- Aston Magna Festival – Slosberg Auditorium