MARK AUERBACH
A Bach Birthday Symposium and Festival
Want to hear Bach’s Coffee Cantata at Rao’s Coffee Roasters in Amherst ? You can, for free, on Sunday, April 17 at 11 a.m. It’s all part of a weekend-long celebration of the 330th birthday of composer J.S. Bach, courtesy of the UMass/Amherst Department of Music and Dance. They’re producing a Bach Festival of concerts and symposium on April 17-19. Participants include Music Department faculty, local professional and alumni musicians, advanced music students, and guests–regional, national and international scholars and performers.
UMass and Springfield Symphony oboist Frederic Cohen performs at the UMass Bach Birthday Festival.
The Festival is seen as the pilot for a biannual event providing the communities with extraordinary educational and musical opportunities, and a platform to draw music lovers to Amherst from around New England. .
The rarely performed 1725 version of “St. John Passion” forms the centerpiece of the music side of the Festival on April 18 at Grace Church in Amherst. William Hite sings the role of the Evangelist with the UMass Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus. Other concerts include: a free concert (April 17) in Bezanson Recital Hall featuring the Brandenberg Concerti #4 and #6 and the Keyboard Concerto in D Minor with the Opus One Chamber Orchestra and faculty members Gilles Vonsattel, piano; Elizabeth Chang, violin; Christopher Krueger, flute; Kathryn Lockwood, viola; Astrid Schween, cello, and Salvatore Macchia, doublebass.
Bach on bass with UMass and Springfield Symphony bassist Salvatore Macchia.
“Hercules at the Crossroads”, Cantata BVW 213 and a flute and trio sonata are slated for April 19th in Bezanson Recital Hall. Guest Ng Tian Hui will conduct guests Shannon Rose McAuliffe, soprano; Emily Marvosh, alto; Eric C. Perry, tenor; and Will Prapestis, baritone. The chamber music will be performed by Professors Elizabeth Chang, violin; Christopher Krueger, flute; Fredric T. Cohen, oboe; and guests Alice Robbins, cello & Gregory Hayes, harpsichord.
For concert tickets and information, call 413-545-2511 or go to fac.umass.edu/musicanddance.
The J.S. Bach Festival Symposium (April 17-18) will feature guest scholars discussing the many ways that Bach’s music influenced modern culture its composers. For information: http://www.umass.edu/music/BachSymposium2015.php.
ERIC HILL
Berkshire Theatre Group Announces its Unicorn Schedule
Eric Hill, the actor, director, and teacher, who put Springfield’s StageWest in the national arena in the 1980s and 1990s, has settled down in The Berkshires, where he’s a regular presence at The Berkshire Theatre Group. He has directed “Benefactors”, “A Christmas Carol” (which he also adapted), ”Oklahoma!”, “A Chorus Line”, and “The Who’s Tommy “. He wrote and adapted the premiere of “Poe” last Fall. He’s also lended his vision to “Macbeth”, “Amadeus” and “The Glass Menagerie”.
The Berkshire Theatre Group’s upcoming Unicorn Theatre season includes three plays involving Hill. Virginia Scheuer stars in Justin Scheuer’s “Masha’s Seagull”, which is rooted in Chekhov. Hill directed the piece at a small theatre in Arkansas, and he’ll do it again in the Berkshires.
“My experience with Justin and Virginia, when I directed this piece at The Classical Edge, was a remarkable journey,” says Hill. “This voyage continues in the transfer of our work from The Classical Edge to The Unicorn Theatre. This is a truly beautiful and challenging piece.”
New England Transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau built his life around the idea of simplicity and love. The enlightened thinker’s reflections come to life in the world premiere of David Adkins’ one-man play, “Thoreau or, Return to Walden”. Eric Hill directs Adkins, in the solo performance piece. They worked together on “Poe” last year, and Adkins has performed at Berkshire Theatre Group over the last 22 seasons.
Hill also directs the Harold Pinter riveting classic “The Homecoming” which stars Rocco Sisto and Tara Franklin.
For season details: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org..
Comings and Goings
Tony Simotes, former Artistic Director and President of Shakespeare & Company, a professional company he helped found in 1978, has been named Managing Director of The Berkshire Theatre Group. He joins Kate Maguire to lead one of the largest arts organizations in western Massachusetts. For information: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org.
Keep in Mind…
***Stephen Petronio, a major force on today’s contemporary dance scene, began his career at Hampshire College. Petronio returns to the Valley twice this month, first to read from his recently published memoir “Confessions of a Motion Addict” at Northamptons R. Michelson Gallery on April 14 (at 7 p.m., a free reading), and then, to showcase the Stephen Petronio Company on April 16 at the UMass Fine Arts Center. For information on the reading at R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton: http://www.rmichelson.com/ For Fine Arts Centerr tickets: 800-999-UMASS, 413-545-2511 or http://www.fineartscenter.com/
***Broadway With The Callaways. Tony Award nominated sisters Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway, known for their album “Sibling Revelry” join ther Hartford Symphony Pops on April 18. at The Bushnell . Liz is best known for Broadway stints in “Baby”, “Miss Saigon”, and “Cats”. Ann is the singer and composer, whose works are featured onStreisand’s CDs. For tickets: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org
***The Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival celebrates its 10th season with screenings of 20 films, conversations with filmmakers, and other special events from April 12-26 at sites throughout Western Massachusetts. The ambitious line-up of films include comedies, dramas, and documentaries. For details: www.pvjff.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio.
