Music by Scarlatti and Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” open the season, which runs June 23-July 23 at Brandeis and in Hudson and Great Barrington
The Aston Magna Music Festival celebrates its 49th season with a return to live, in-person concerts beginning June 23, 24, and 25 and on subsequent Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through July 23.
Performing on period instruments, Aston Magna performs Thursday concerts at Slosberg Music Center at Brandeis University and Fridays at Hudson Hall in Hudson, N.Y. Saturday concerts take place in Great Barrington at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (June 25 only) and Saint James Place. Concerts take place at 7 p.m.
The opening weekend, June 23-25, features a double bill of Scarlatti’s “Humanity and Lucifer” and Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale.”
“These two morality tales mirror each other across two centuries, representing humanity’s struggle with its demons,” says Artistic Director Daniel Stepner, who will deliver pre-concert talks at 6:15 p.m. before each event. “And Stravinsky’s 1918 piece has resonance for today: war, revolution, pandemic. In fact, Spanish influenza halted performances of ‘The Soldier’s Tale.’”
Soprano Kristen Watson and tenor Frank Kelley are featured in the Scarlatti piece. Kelley will also narrate and stage-direct “The Soldier’s Tale,” performed by two actors, a dancer, and a rag-tag “village band,” comprised of more than a dozen Aston Magna musicians performing on period instruments.
Concerts continue June 30-July 2 with a program titled “The Chamber Music of Robert and Clara Schumann. Performing are David Hyun-su Kim, fortepiano; Daniel Stepner, violin; Marcus Thompson, viola; and Jacques Lee Wood, cello.
On July 7, 8, and 9 Aston Magna presents The Chamber Music of J.S. Bach, including excerpts from “The Musical Offering,” with Andrea LeBlanc, baroque flute; Peter Sykes, harpsichord; Daniel Stepner, baroque violin, and Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba.
On July 14, 15, and 16, the “All Handel” program offers “Armida abbandonata” and “Gloria” with soprano Dominique Labelle; Daniel Stepner and Julie Leven, baroque violins; Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba, and Michael Sponseller, harpsichord.
Finally, on July 21, 22, and 23, the program “Double Apotheosis: Francois Couperin’s Tributes to Corelli and Lully” is performed by Daniel Stepner and Edson Scheid, baroque violins; Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba; Catherine Liddell, theorbo; and Michael Sponseller, harpsichord.
Except for the Mahaiwe performance, which has a range of pricing, season tickets are $40/advance, or $50 at the door. Discounts and subscription pricing available. Purchase tickets at astonmagna.org or by phone, (888) 492-1283. Tickets for the Mahaiwe performance must be purchased at Mahaiwe.org, or (413) 528-0100.