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.
