The nation’s longest running summer festival of early music presents Brahms, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and more at Rhodes Arts Center at Northfield Mount Hermon, with masters of early music performing on period instruments
This is the summer for the Pioneer Valley to experience early music, performed on on original, period instruments by masters of historical music performance.
Aston Magna Music Festival’s 46th summer season, in seven Northeast venues, this year includes Pioneer Valley performances on three Friday evenings at Northfield Mount Hermon’ School’s Rhodes Arts Center, on July 6, 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. This summer is Aston Magna’s debut in the Pioneer Valley’s summer music scene.
With additional performances this summer at Brandeis University and at venues in the Berkshires and New York’s Hudson Valley, Aston Magna is the nation’s longest-running festival of early music. Aston Magna’s musicians are accomplished experts in early music, performing on authentic period instruments.
At Rhodes Arts Center, Aston Magna will present works by Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart and, in its final performance, J.S. Bach’s Art of the Fugue, in a new orchestration by Daniel Stepner. Each performance is preceded by a pre-concert talk with Stepner at 6:30 p.m.
On Friday, July 6, pianist Robert Levin and Daniel Stepner, baroque violin, join to perform an evening of Brahms: The Sonatas for Piano and Violin, with Levin performing on his own 1869 Streicher piano.
Both Levin and Stepner are accomplished scholars of early music and instrumentation; they come together for this special duet evening.
Tickets
On Friday, July 13, Aston Magna presents “Beethoven Septet, Mozart Quartet, Bernhard Romberg Trio,” with an evening of woodwinds and brass.
With Eric Hoeprich, classical clarinet; Daniel Stepner, baroque violin; Todd Williams, natural horn; Andrew Schwartz, baroque bassoon; Anne Trout, bass, and Jacques Lee Wood, baroque cello.
Finally, on Friday July 20, in a new orchestration by Daniel Stepner, the Aston Magna ensemble and special guests perform J.S. Bach: Art of the Fugue.
Artists include Daniel Stepner, baroque violin; Christopher Krueger, flute; Peter Sykes, harpsichord; Laura Jeppesen, gamba; Stephen Hammer, baroque oboe; Loretta O’Sullivan, baroque cello, and Jason Fisher, viola.
Tickets for Northfield Mount Hermon concerts are $30 for all general admission seating; Aston Magna offers free admission for students and discounts for patrons under 30. Up to two children admitted free with a ticketed adult. More ticketing and venue information here.
Tickets and full season program information for Pioneer Valley dates and all other Aston Magna festival performances (June 14-July 21) can be found at astonmagna.org