Review by Edward Kliszus

La Vida Bona “A well-grounded’ Program, in Two Parts

November 17, 2020   Part I ​

Broadcast premiere, Tuesday, November 17, 2020 • 7:30 pm EST, presented on YouTube, aconyc.org and Facebook Live.

Filmed at Harlem Parish, Manhattan, New York City, Thomas Crawford Founder & Artistic Director.

Henry Purcell’s inventive Chaconne opened the program, performed with superb musicianship by the ACO’s performers, thereby setting the standard of sublime artistry to follow, beautifully filmed, recorded, and produced in the marvelous Harlem Parish setting. How delightful to hear, see and experience representative 17th-century works performed on period instruments that, for the imaginative engaged listener, propelled a suspension of belief, anachronistically transporting participants into a magical musical experience.

Step from the chaconne, engraving by H. Fletcher, from Kellom Tomlinson’s The Art of Dancing, 1735, Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

During this time of Covid and its suppression of performing arts, perhaps akin to the effects of endemic 17th-century European plagues on its composers, this musical project is a heartwarming, vital, joy and hope-filled retreat for the weary musical denizen generously treated to a feast of the visual and aural beauty of musical works and world-class performers. Gently close your eyes, arise in a court, salon, church, or stage center where rich artistry abounds, immersed in the late Baroque’s transformational tenet of Affektenlehre, embracing music’s capability for eliciting specific human emotions in the responsive listening participant.

The Program

Chaconne ​(King Arthur) by Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Karen Dekker and Chloe Fedor, violin

Maureen Murchie, viola

Arnie Tanimoto, cello

Thomas Crawford, harpsichord

L’Eraclito amoroso by Barbara Strozzi ​(1619-1677)

Guadalupe Peraza, mezzo soprano

Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba

Charles Weaver, theorbo

La Favorite, Source: ​ Troisième Ordre by François Couperin ​(1668-1733)

Thomas Crawford, harpsichord

Ciaccona in E Major by Nicola Francesco Haym ​(1678-1729)

Chloe Fedor and Karen Dekker, violin

Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba

Charles Weaver, theorbo

Chaconne in A Major ​ Pièces de Viole Book 4, by Marin Marais ​(1656-1728)

Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba

Charles Weaver, theorbo

Chacona a la vida bona, by Juan Arañés ​(d. 1649)

Guadalupe Peraza, mezzo soprano

Chloe Fedor and Karen Dekker, violin

Arnie Tanimoto, cello

Charles Weaver, baroque guitar

Michael K. Harrist, percussion

After the performance, we were treated to a guest interview hosted by Tom Crawford and Amanda Sidebottom, speaking with mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Peraza about tonight’s venue and music.

I highly recommend tuning in to the broadcast premiere of Part II​ on Friday, November 20, 2020, at 7:30 pm EST, presented on aconyc.org, Facebook Live, and YouTube, featuring Trio Sonata, Op. 2, No. 12 Ciacona by Arcangelo Corelli, Lamento della ninfa by Claudio Monteverdi, La Marionas by Santiago de Murcia, and Chaconne Partita for Violin in D minor, BWV 1004 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performed by Karen Dekker and Chloe Fedor, violin, Arnie Tanimoto, cello, Thomas Crawford, harpsichord, Guadalupe Peraza, mezzo soprano, Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba, Charles Weaver, theorbo, Alex Guerrero, tenor, Dominic Inferrera, baritone, Enrico Lagasca, bass-baritone, and Charles Weaver, guitar.

The concert and interview runtime was about 55 minutes.

American Classical Orchestra 552 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10024 212.362.2727,  aconyc.org, American Classical Orchestra is a 501(c)(3), and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Readers may also enjoy our reviews of Organ and Orchestra by The American Symphony, The American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 by the Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra.