Music of the Baroque

Music of the Baroque is a professional chorus and orchestra based in Chicago that specializes in the performance of eighteenth-century works.^[1]

History

Music of the Baroque was founded by Thomas S. Wikman in 1972 as a program of the choir of the Church of St. Paul and the Redeemer in Hyde Park. It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1975, and achieved critical acclaim early in its history. As the Chicago Sun-Times put it, “Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra may be the big guys on the local classical music scene, but in terms of sheer quality of performance…Music of the Baroque inhabits the same stratosphere.” Many Music of the Baroque musicians also perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and with Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Conductor Jane Glover was named Music Director in September 2002. Nicholas Kraemer is the ensemble’s Principal Guest Conductor. Karen Fishman has served as the organization's executive director since 1999.

Over nearly four decades, Music of the Baroque has presented premiere and revival performances of many early masterpieces—among them Claudio Monteverdi’s operas and 1610 Vespers, Georg Philipp Telemann’s Day of Judgement, Mozart’s Idomeneo, and numerous Handel operas and oratorios. The ensemble has drawn particular praise throughout its history for its performances of the major choral works of J. S. Bach and Handel. ^[2] In recent seasons, Music of the Baroque has given modern premieres of several works by Telemann, including the cantatas, "Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft," "Dich rühmen die Welten," and "Siehe, das ist Gottes Lamm."

Music of the Baroque was the first professional chorus in America to have its own regularly scheduled nationwide broadcast series, and its performances are aired around the country. Music of the Baroque concerts are currently heard on WFMT Radio. Their Emmy-nominated holiday special, "A Renaissance Christmas," made in conjunction with WTTW, has been broadcast on public television stations across the United States.

Current season

Music of the Baroque performs primarily in the Harris Theater in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and First United Methodist Church in Evanston, as well as in other neighborhood churches chosen for acoustics and architectural interest. Running from September through May, the ensemble presents eight programs for a total of 19 concerts per year. Music of the Baroque's 2011-12 season includes Bach's Mass in B Minor, Beethoven's Choral Fantasy with pianist Imogen Cooper, Handel's L'Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato with Elizabeth Futral, Bach's Double Violin Concerto, Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin and Viola, and their annual Holiday Brass and Choral Concerts.

Recordings

Music of the Baroque's recordings include Haydn's The Creation, Telemann's Day of Judgement, Renaissance Christmas (two volumes), and four discs featuring performances of Concertmaster Emeritus Elliot Golub.

Educational outreach

Music of the Baroque conducts educational outreach to support and enhance music education programs at Chicago public high schools. Combining individual and group vocal instruction by Music of the Baroque chorus members with exposure to high-quality musical performances, the program currently includes Hubbard High School, Kelly High School, Kelvyn Park High School, Lake View High School, and Lane Technical High School.

References

1. ^ Delacoma, Wynne. "Turning 40, Music of the Baroque sees a bright future" (9-21-2010), Chicago Classical Review.
2. ^ "Music of the Baroque, Chicago Classical Music

External links

• www.baroque.org