UPDATED December 13, 2016
A varied selection of organ, choral, and instrumental music for the Christmas season highlights the next Third Thursday concert with Eastman’s Italian Organ at the Memorial Art Gallery on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Italian Baroque Organ at the Memorial Art Gallery
Titled “An Italian Baroque Christmas,” the program features Eastman School of Music faculty and students, along with special guests, who will present works by Cavazzoni, Gabrieli, Sweelinck, Bach, and Zipoli. The program will conclude with a performance of favorite Italian Christmas carol, Tu scendi dalle stelle, written in the early 18th century, with choir, instruments, and opportunity for audience participation.
Performers include Edoardo Bellotti, Associate Professor of Organ, Harpsichord and Improvisation; Eastman doctoral students Oliver Brett, Jacob Fuhrman, Thatcher Lyman, Alexis VanZalen, organ; Boel Gidholm and Lydia Becker, baroque violin; Noah Fields, baroque viola; Glenna Curren, baroque cello; Deborah Fox, theorbo; and a vocal ensemble directed by Thatcher Lymann.
Admission to the concert is included in Gallery admission, which is half-price on Thursday nights and free to University of Rochester faculty, students, and staff with ID. Early arrival prior to 7:30 p.m. is recommended since seating is limited and cannot be reserved in advance. This concert is made possible by the Rippey Endowed Trust.
The next concert on the series will take place on Jan. 19, 2017, and will feature local period-instrumental ensemble Publick Musick, joined by soprano Shari Alise Wilson. The program is titled ‘O Anima Mea: Music of Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704).’
Eastman’s 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 organ’s beautiful, authentic sounds have been heard by thousands of people who have come to the weekly Sunday mini-recitals and the special monthly concerts by internationally known guest artists and Eastman musicians.
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