Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra presents Bach’s Brandenburgs featuring Richard Egarr and members of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
2015-11-12
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
8:00 PM, Thursday, November 12, 2015

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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Brandenburg Concertos (1721)

[8:00 PM lights down, banter from RE about this set of works]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Brandenburg Concerto 1mo à 2 Corni di Caccia, 3 Hautb: è Bassono, Violino Piccolo concertato, 2 Violini, una Viola col Basso Continuo AKA No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046 (1721);
featuring Paul Avril, Michael DuPree, R.J. Kelley, Katherine Kyme ‡, Gonzalo X. Ruiz, and Marc Schachman

1. [8:04 PM] (Allegro)
2. [8:08 PM] Adagio
3. [8:11 PM] Allegro
4. [8:14 PM] Menuet – Trio I – Menuet da capo
5. [8:16 PM] Polacca – Menuet da capo – Trio II – Menuet da capo
6. [8:19 PM] ?
   [work ends 8:23 PM]

[8:24 PM banter from Ricard Egarr about next]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Brandenburg Concerto 3zo a tre Violini, tre Viole, è tre Violoncelli col Basso per il Cembalo AKA No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (1721);
featuring a trio of violins (Elizabeth Blumenstock, Katherine Kyme, and Lisa Weiss), a trio of violas (Maria Ionia Caswell, Lisa Grodin, and Ellie Nishi), and a trio of cellos (Phoebe Carrai, Paul Hale, and Tanya Tomkins), accompanied by Richard Egarr and Kristin Zoernig

1. [8:31 PM] (Allegro)
2. [8:37 PM] Adagio
3. [8:38 PM] Allegro
   [set ends 8:43 PM; all off after a minute or so]

[9:04 PM tuning, lights down]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Brandenburg Concerto 5to à une Traversiere, une Violino principale, une Violino è una Viola in ripieno, Violoncello, Violone è Cembalo concertato AKA No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 (1721);
featuring Richard Egarr, Janet See, and Lisa Weiss, accompanied by David Daniel Bowes, Phoebe Carrai, Carla Moore, and Kristin Zoernig

1. [9:06 PM] Allegro
2. [9:17 PM] Affettuoso
3. [9:22 PM] Allegro
   [work ends 9:27 PM]

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Brandenburg Concerto 4ta à Violino Principale, due Fiauti d'Echo, due Violini, una Viola è Violone in Ripieno, Violoncello è Continuo AKA No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 (1721);
featuring Elizabeth Blumenstock, Andrew Levy, and Hanneke van Proosdij, accompanied by Richard Egarr and Kristin Zoernig and pairs of violins, violas and cellos.

1. [9:33 PM] Allegro
2. [9:40 PM] Andante
3. [9:44 PM] Presto
   [set ends 9:48 PM; bows and applause, all off at 9:50 PM]

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

• Paul Avril: horn;
• Elizabeth Blumenstock: violin;
• Danny Bond: bassoon;
• David Daniel Bowes: viola;
• Phoebe Carrai: cello;
• Maria Ionia Caswell: viola;
• Michael DuPree: oboe;
• Lisa Grodin: violin;
• Paul Hale: cello;
• R.J. Kelley: principal horn;
• Katherine Kyme: violin, ‡ violino piccolo;
• Andrew Levy: recorder;
• Anthony Martin: concertmaster, violin;
• Carla Moore: violin;
• Maxine Nemerovski: violin;
• Ellie Nishi: viola;
• Gonzalo X. Ruiz: oboe;
• Marc Schachman: principal oboe;
• Sandra Schwartz: violin;
• Janet See: baroque flute;
• Noah Strick: violin;
• Tanya Tomkins: principal cello;
• Hanneke van Proosdij: recorder;
• Jolianne von Einem: violin;
• Lisa Weiss: violin;
• Kristin Zoernig: principal contrabass.

• Richard Egarr: harpsichord, conductor.

The first set was good, but sitting towards the back of Herbst, the sound is far less involving than the crisp, dry sound from Monday night's "PBO Sessions" gig at ODC Theatre. Makes me think that chamber music really was invented to be heard in small chambers – the larger space of Herbst drains the music of much of it's immediacy and impact. My guess is that this hall is over twice as large as ODC, and I“m probably three times further back. Ja. Well, can't do much about that tonight – with my eagle eye, I was unable to spy any open seats closer than three rows up from me.

Stephen Smoliar posted an enthusiastic review of the show for the Examiner – my guess is that he must have had a better seat than I did!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2015 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2015 event list! ☸ On to the next event!