A musical season gets underway

Ars Antiqua, the Chappaqua-based baroque music ensemble, opens its new season Nov. 3.

WAG last caught up with Mark Kramer for a “Where Are They Now?” feature in our July food/entertaining issue

At the time, we heard about how the executive chef, creative director and proprietor was juggling the running of the always-busy Susan Lawrence retail shop, café and bakery in Chappaqua with work on his first book, one inspired by a month living – and cooking – in Italy.

Of course, that is always complemented by Kramer’s passion for classical music – fueled by his role as founder, artistic director and musician in Ars Antiqua, a Baroque music ensemble.

Kramer has now shared news about the group’s first concert of its new season, set for Nov. 3 at the historic Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua.

The 8 p.m. concert will be followed by a buffet of Black Forest Cake and German confections.

It will offer, Kramer says, “a rare opportunity to hear Bach in an entirely adventurous and new context.”

As he adds, “The program, ‘Sebastian in Thüringer Wald: Young Bach at the Wellspring of Genius,’ will take the audience on a musical journey into the sacred heartland of Germany where Johann Sebastian was born. Here, under the guidance of his elders, Sebastian’s prodigious talent began to flourish and his musical sensibilities developed as he discovered composers such as Buxtehude, Pachelbel and Reincken. Performing on historic instruments, the artists of Ars Antiqua will present some of Bach’s earliest music alongside works of his ancestors and composers who influenced the young musician.”

Featured artists will include Heather Johnson, mezzo soprano; Jörg-Michael Schwarz and Karen Marie Marmer, Baroque violin; Kramer, viola da gamba; Leon Schelhase, harpsichord and organ; Peter Kupfer, Baroque viola; Hideki Yamaya, theorbo; and The Emanuel Ringers, bells.

Tickets are $35, available at the door the evening of the concert with the ticket desk opening at 7:30.

For more, visit ars-antiqua.org.

– Mary Shustack

 

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