Music Before 1800 is New York City's longest-running concert series devoted exclusively to early music; it frequently features well-known ensembles of the caliber of Anonymous 4 and rising young stars like New York Baroque Incorporated.
The series is currently in the midst of its 39th season. Notable concerts that remain include a performance of Actéon, Marc-Antoine Charpentier's 1685 tragédie en musique, directed by William Christie on April 13; and a performance on May 4 by Montreal-based Masques to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Jean-Philippe Rameau's death.
Christie will direct the Juilliard early music ensemble Juilliard415, and Masques will present interpretations of Rameau's tour de force: the five Concerts for solo harpsichord, violin, flute, and bass viol. Both concerts will take place at MB 1800's longtime venue, Corpus Christi Church in Morningside Heights, N.Y.
This year, MB 1800 will also have a presence at New York City's Kosciuszko Foundation. NY Baroque Incorporated will present a program there on April 3 entitled "Music of the Jewish Diaspora: Ghetto to Court," an exploration of unusual music by Jewish composers including Felix Mendelssohn (and Salomone Rossi), as well as music by Italian nobleman Benedetto Marcello, who initiated the use of Hebrew melodies from the Venetian ghetto.
On April 23, Kenneth Weiss will perform works from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book on both harpsichord and ottavino at the Kosciuszko Foundation. This concert is a sequel to "On a Cleare Day," his MB 1800 performance from 2011. He continues with more pieces by Bull, Byrd, Morley, Tallis, and others from this abundant collection.
More information about MB 1800 programs is available at mb1800.org.
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