December 2011
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Here in the Berkshires, it’s that time of year when we pause to appreciate the wealth of concert offerings with which we are blessed.
We look forward to the annual Bach at New Year’s concerts featuring the six Brandenburg Concerti with Maestro Kenneth Cooper conducting the “irrepressible” Berkshire Bach Ensemble, and with Eugene Drucker, concertmaster, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington and the Troy Savings Bank Musical Hall in Troy, New York.
On February 12, Valentine’s Weekend, we will be treated to an all-Bach organ concert with organist Christa Rakich and soprano Miranda Bergmeier at St. Stephen’s Church in Pittsfield, performing chorales and settings from Bach’s Little Organ Book, Bach’s Pièce d’Orgue, BWV 572, and the Trio Sonata #1 in E-flat, BWV 525.
Then, on April 28th, Berkshire Bach will offer a fascinating presentation by guest musicologist Dr. Jeremy Yudkin, entitled How Does Bach Do It? It will be held in the exquisite Allen Theater at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. The evening will include a lecture coupled with a performance by Cambridge Concentus, the renowned Baroque music ensemble playing period instruments, together with the brilliant soprano Clara Rottsolk. During the concert, Dr. Yudkin will explain how Bach went about the task of composing, and how his personal life and his life as a composer informed his work and the musical language he chose to create his masterpieces. The program will include Bach’s famous “Wedding” Cantata and Orchestral Suite No. 3, with the gorgeous “Air on a G string” slow movement.
Were that not enough, topping off our spring schedule in May will be an 80th birthday recital by the beloved violin virtuoso Joseph Silverstein in which he will perform Bach’s celebrated Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin.
These are the reasons we invite you to help us present these exciting and adventuresome concert opportunities! These are the reasons we need you to support our annual fund … now, before the end of the year.
One more note. For the first time, this year Berkshire Bach is formally making available concert sponsorships to its supporters in their own names, or in honor or remembrance of a special person in their lives. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about these opportunities to support Berkshire Bach in this very special way.
Please be as generous as you can. And we’ll keep on bringing the world’s greatest music to the Berkshires … and beyond!
Sincerely,
Carl H. Shuster
President