It’s official! We now have our lineup of music and for Aston Magna’s 43rd season, and we’d like to share the headlines! Our musical guests artists are lining up as well, and we will keep you posted as the ensemble expands!
A Musical Feast:
Aston Magna Music Festival 2015 Presents Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Marais, Schubert and More
Vocalists Dominique Labelle, Frank Kelley and others join Aston Magna for a dynamic season of early music in the Berkshires, Boston area and Hudson Valley
Dominique Labelle, soprano
The intimate early music of Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Marais and many others headline Aston Magna Music Festival’s 43rd season, “A Musical Feast.” Spanning four vibrant weekends from June 18-July 18, 2015, the nation’s longest running summer festival of early music brings its virtuoso musicians, playing on period instruments, to venues in the Boston area, the Berkshires and Hudson Valley.
From June 18-20, Aston Magna presents “Monteverdi’s Warring Lovers,” with Il Combattimento, Lettera amorosa and other operatic madrigals, plus instrumental works by Monteverdi’s peers. The concert features performances by soprano Dominique Labelle, with tenors Frank Kelley and William Hite. A baroque ensemble will be led by Aston Magna Artistic Director Daniel Stepner on violin.
On June 25-27, Aston Magna presents “Le Monde de Marin Marais: La Musique et La Danse,” a performance of music and movement. Dancers will join Aston Magna’s Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba, Catherine Liddell, theorbo, and Daniel Stepner, baroque violin in an indulgence of the music of Marais.
On July 2-4, “Wind Power” features a program of Schubert (the monumental Octet for winds and strings), Boccherini and Mozart.
Dan Stepne
The season’s final weekend, “Eternal Seasons,” July 16-18, offers Vivaldi’s beloved “Four Seasons” featuring a different violin soloist for each season. Vocal and instrumental music by Bach is also on the menu. The final concert in Great Barrington takes place July 18 at the historic Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
Each event features a pre-concert talk with Aston Magna Artistic Director Daniel Stepner. All Great Barrington events are followed by a wine and cheese reception with the artists.
Performance venues and times are:
• Thursday evenings: Slosberg Auditorium at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA at 7 p.m.
• Friday evenings: Olin Hall, Bard College, Annandale on Hudson, NY at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 20 at 3 p.m., The Daniel Arts Center, at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA; on June 27 and July 4 at the Daniel Arts Center at 6 p.m.
viola da gamba
• On Saturday, July 18, the performance takes place at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m., in Great Barrington, MA.
Information about subscriptions and tickets can be found at astonmagna.org; or by calling, 413.528.3595 or 800.875.7156, or via email astonmagna@optonline.net