Organist Ulrika Davidsson, violinist Christine Hauptly, and soprano Elizabeth Phillips join forces to kick off a new season of Italian Baroque Organ Showcase concerts at the Memorial Art Gallery on Sunday, Sept. 16. Their hour-long recital, at 5:30 p.m. in the Gallery’s Fountain Court, features music by Italian and German masters including Vivaldi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Pasquini, Buxtehude, and Schmelzer.
The series of monthly concerts is sponsored by the Department of Organ and Historical Keyboards at the Eastman School of Music.
Davidsson is assistant professor of historical keyboards at Eastman and has given concerts on the piano, fortepiano, clavichord, organ, and harpsichord throughout Europe as well as in the United States. In addition, she has lectured at international academies and conferences. A native of Sweden, Davidsson holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Göteborg and received her Master in Music and doctoral degrees at the Eastman School.
Hauptly has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002. Previously, she was associate concertmaster and section violinist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Hauptly has been active as a baroque violinist, performing with the Handel and Haydn Society and in numerous chamber music projects across the United States. Hauptly also was concertmaster for the Ignoti Dei Opera in Maryland.
Phillips has been a featured soloist for various performing groups in western New York as well as for orchestras throughout the United States. She has sung many operatic roles, including Lucia in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, Tirésias in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and Despina in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte.
Phillips is also a member of F’loom, an a cappella trio which performs and teaches throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Tickets to the Italian Baroque Organ Showcase Concert are $12 for the general public and $8 for students. Tickets are available at the door one hour before the concert and are payable by cash or check.
The Italian Baroque Organ was built around 1770 in central Italy. Restored and installed in 2005 at the Memorial Art Gallery, the instrument is the only one of its kind in North America. The monthly Italian Baroque Organ Showcase concerts feature Eastman School faculty and guest artists. Upcoming performances include a concert of vocal and instrumental music by Buxtehude and Italian masters with Christ Church Scholar Cantorum, directed by Stephen Kennedy, on Oct. 14; and a recital with improvisation and dance on Nov. 18. In addition, Eastman organ faculty members David Higgs and William Porter will give an organ and harpsichord recital at the Memorial Art Gallery at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11. The Oct. 11 and Oct. 14 performances are part of this year’s EROI (Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative) Festival.
More information on concerts is available online at www.esm.rochester.edu/concerts.
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Calendar listing:
Sunday, September 16
5:30 p.m.
Italian Baroque Organ Showcase Concert
Ulrika Davidsson, organ; Christine Hauptly, violin; Elizabeth Phillips, soprano
Memorial Art Gallery
500 University Ave.
Tickets $12/$8 students, available at the door one hour prior to the concert; cash or check only
