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Press Releases
American Classical Orchestra Presents J.S. Bach's St. John Passion
American Classical Orchestra presents J.S Bach’s
St. John Passion, conducted by Thomas Crawford,
on Tuesday, November 3 at 8:00PM at Alice Tully
Hall with renowned tenor Rufus Muller as the
Evangelist, making a return engagement in Bach’s
beloved St. John Passion Members of the American
Classical Orchestra Chorus will be featured in
the solo arias. Bach’s two surviving passions,
the St. Matthew and the St. John, have become the
bedrock of our western classical music canon. The
passion offers compelling musical representations
of the gospel story in graphic detail and
timeless expanse. In the St. John, Bach’s
instrumental pallet is unique, employing now
legendary solos for flute, ‘hunting oboes’, and
Bach’s most haunting solo for the viol da gamba.
Soloists from the American Classical Orchestra
Chorus will include Teresa Wakim, soprano; Daniel
Bubeck, countertenor; Dann Coakwell, tenor;
Steven Wilson, tenor; Jesse Blumberg, baritone;
Joseph Beutel, bass-baritone and Paul Max Tipton,
baritone, who will sing the role of Jesus.
The concert will be preceded by a Pre-Concert Lecture at 7:00PM by Maestro Thomas Crawford.
QUOTE BY MUSIC DIRECTOR THOMAS CRAWFORD
“I performed the St. John Passion fifteen years ago and have not heard this music since then. When I began studying it again last month for our November performance, I was reduced to a pool of shivers and tears at the beauty. Bach is the greatest composer. His music is from the ‘high baroque’ period of music history, but there is no other music that conveys the infinity of music over time. As a statement of humanity, this music sounds as if it could have been written 500 years earlier or 500 years from now. The arias and choruses are so profoundly moving to hear that I found myself honored to have grown older. This is one reason why Bach is great art: the music stays the same but our souls and perspective changes over time and thus we experience the music differently at each stage of our development.
For our November 3rd performance at Alice Tully Hall, I am proud to have assembled a superb group of singers and players. If you’ve heard it before, you will cherish the new perspective…..if this is your first time, you couldn’t ask for a better reference.“
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
THOMAS CRAWFORD, Conductor
Thomas C. Crawford, Music Director and Founder of the American Classical Orchestra, is active in numerous musical disciplines as conductor, composer, and organist. As a conductor, Mr. Crawford is a champion of both historically accurate performance styles of the Baroque and Classical repertoire and of new American music. Mr. Crawford has attracted many outstanding artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, André Watts, Dawn Upshaw, Richard Goode, Victor Borge, Monica Huggett and Vladimir Feltsman. He is responsible for the American Classical Orchestra's numerous international recordings with such great artists as Malcolm Bilson and Keith Jarrett. He is also a composer in many idioms and has been especially prolific in vocal music. Mr. Crawford has been recognized for his teaching of children and adults through school programs and lectures.
RUFUS MULLER, Evangelist
Rufus Müller, the English-German tenor, was acclaimed by The New York Times following a performance in Carnegie Hall as "...easily the best tenor I have heard in a live Messiah." He is a leading Evangelist in Bach's Passions and his unique dramatic interpretation of this role has confirmed his status as one of the world's most sought-after performers.
Rufus Müller's numerous performances as the Evangelist include Lucerne, Munich, Toronto, Calgary, New York, London, Birmingham, Göteborg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Bordeaux, Washington DC. His many performances of Messiah include regular appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York, a televised tour in Spain with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert, as well as performances in Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Numerous other concert engagements have included Bach Cantatas with John Eliot Gardiner in London, works by Bach and Handel with the Philhamonia Baroque Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan in San Francisco, a European tour of Casals El Pessebre with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Bach's Magnificat at the BBC Proms, and Finzi's Dies Natalis with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiano and Thierry Fischer.
AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CHORUS
American Classical Orchestra Chorus is a renowned vocal group that joins American Classical Orchestra for larger productions and works. Comprised of professional vocalists from the New York Metro area, the ACO Chorus has quickly become of the pre-eminent period vocal groups in the City. Under the direction of Music Director, Thomas Crawford, the chorus has recently performed Handel’s ‘Samson’ and ‘Jubilate’ at Alice Tully Hall receiving glowing reviews in the New York Times and New York Classical Review. “The best thing about the Jubilate is that it brought the ACO Chorus to the stage – and they are as fine as the Orchestra.” New York Classical Review.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
The American Classical Orchestra is an orchestra dedicated to performing music from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. As a period instrument ensemble, ACO’s mission is to present the music as the composers might have heard it in their time using instruments and techniques from when the music was written. The American Classical Orchestra strives to present historically- informed performances that add to the cultural landscape of NYC.
Founded by Music Director Thomas Crawford in 1984 as The Orchestra of the Old Fairfield Academy in Fairfield Connecticut, the American Classical Orchestra has been based in New York City since 2005. Since moving to New York City, ACO has established itself as the leading period instrument ensemble in the City. The American Classical Orchestra’s annual concert series, held largely at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, has garnered critical acclaim.
In 2001, the American Classical Orchestra was invited to perform at the Metropolitan Museum during an exhibition entitled Art and the Empire City: New York, 1825– 1861. The ACO presented two works premiered in New York during that time period. Additional highlights of ACO’s 30 years include appearing as part of the Lincoln Center Great Performers Series, a sold-out 25th Anniversary performance of the Beethoven 9th Symphony at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and a staged a performance of Handel’s opera Alceste as part of the American Classical Orchestra’s survey of Handel’s work during Handelfest in 2014.
The American Classical Orchestra has numerous recordings with renowned artists such as Malcolm Bilson and R.J. Kelley. Among the works recorded by the American Classical Orchestra are the complete wind concerti by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (featuring ACO’s principal players as soloists), Mozart’s Symphony No. 14, K.144 and Mozart’s three Piano Concerti, K.107, with fortepianist Malcolm Bilson. In 2010, the American Classical Orchestra released a recording of Baroque oboe concerti with oboist Marc Schachman on the Centaur label. The American Classical Orchestra is dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of classical music through educational programs. Through its in-school programs, family concert series, and community outreach programs the orchestra has inspired hundreds of thousands of young students and musicians. The ACO’s educational mission is to spread historically-informed performance practices to new generations and instill a love for the music of the Baroque, Classical and early Romantic periods. For this work, the American Classical Orchestra was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant and Early Music America prize. An unusual feature of ACO concerts is that Music Director Thomas Crawford gives the pre-concert lecture, giving the audience first- hand insights into the performance.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased on www.aconyc.org, lincolncenter.org or by calling Center Charge (212-721-6500) or by calling the Alice Tully Hall Box Office (212-671-4050) or in person at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office.
$93.50 Prime I, $73.50 Prime II, $53.50 Standard I, $33.50 Standard II and $15 Student (only at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office with proper student ID).
PROGRAM
J.S.Bach St. John Passion
Rufus Muller, evangelist
American Classical Orchestra and Chorus Soloists from the American Classical Orchestra Chorus
Teresa Wakim, soprano; Daniel Bubeck, countertenor; Dann Coakwell, tenor; Steven Wilson, tenor; Jesse Blumberg, baritone; Joseph Beutel, bass-baritone and Paul Max Tipton, baritone, who will sing the role of Jesus.
WEBSITE
www.aconyc.org
PRESS CONTACT
DAN DUTCHER PUBLIC RELATIONS, Dan Dutcher, 917- 566 -8413, dan@dandutcherpr.com
The concert will be preceded by a Pre-Concert Lecture at 7:00PM by Maestro Thomas Crawford.
QUOTE BY MUSIC DIRECTOR THOMAS CRAWFORD
“I performed the St. John Passion fifteen years ago and have not heard this music since then. When I began studying it again last month for our November performance, I was reduced to a pool of shivers and tears at the beauty. Bach is the greatest composer. His music is from the ‘high baroque’ period of music history, but there is no other music that conveys the infinity of music over time. As a statement of humanity, this music sounds as if it could have been written 500 years earlier or 500 years from now. The arias and choruses are so profoundly moving to hear that I found myself honored to have grown older. This is one reason why Bach is great art: the music stays the same but our souls and perspective changes over time and thus we experience the music differently at each stage of our development.
For our November 3rd performance at Alice Tully Hall, I am proud to have assembled a superb group of singers and players. If you’ve heard it before, you will cherish the new perspective…..if this is your first time, you couldn’t ask for a better reference.“
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
THOMAS CRAWFORD, Conductor
Thomas C. Crawford, Music Director and Founder of the American Classical Orchestra, is active in numerous musical disciplines as conductor, composer, and organist. As a conductor, Mr. Crawford is a champion of both historically accurate performance styles of the Baroque and Classical repertoire and of new American music. Mr. Crawford has attracted many outstanding artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, André Watts, Dawn Upshaw, Richard Goode, Victor Borge, Monica Huggett and Vladimir Feltsman. He is responsible for the American Classical Orchestra's numerous international recordings with such great artists as Malcolm Bilson and Keith Jarrett. He is also a composer in many idioms and has been especially prolific in vocal music. Mr. Crawford has been recognized for his teaching of children and adults through school programs and lectures.
RUFUS MULLER, Evangelist
Rufus Müller, the English-German tenor, was acclaimed by The New York Times following a performance in Carnegie Hall as "...easily the best tenor I have heard in a live Messiah." He is a leading Evangelist in Bach's Passions and his unique dramatic interpretation of this role has confirmed his status as one of the world's most sought-after performers.
Rufus Müller's numerous performances as the Evangelist include Lucerne, Munich, Toronto, Calgary, New York, London, Birmingham, Göteborg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Bordeaux, Washington DC. His many performances of Messiah include regular appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York, a televised tour in Spain with Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert, as well as performances in Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Numerous other concert engagements have included Bach Cantatas with John Eliot Gardiner in London, works by Bach and Handel with the Philhamonia Baroque Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan in San Francisco, a European tour of Casals El Pessebre with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Bach's Magnificat at the BBC Proms, and Finzi's Dies Natalis with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiano and Thierry Fischer.
AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CHORUS
American Classical Orchestra Chorus is a renowned vocal group that joins American Classical Orchestra for larger productions and works. Comprised of professional vocalists from the New York Metro area, the ACO Chorus has quickly become of the pre-eminent period vocal groups in the City. Under the direction of Music Director, Thomas Crawford, the chorus has recently performed Handel’s ‘Samson’ and ‘Jubilate’ at Alice Tully Hall receiving glowing reviews in the New York Times and New York Classical Review. “The best thing about the Jubilate is that it brought the ACO Chorus to the stage – and they are as fine as the Orchestra.” New York Classical Review.
ABOUT THE AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
The American Classical Orchestra is an orchestra dedicated to performing music from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. As a period instrument ensemble, ACO’s mission is to present the music as the composers might have heard it in their time using instruments and techniques from when the music was written. The American Classical Orchestra strives to present historically- informed performances that add to the cultural landscape of NYC.
Founded by Music Director Thomas Crawford in 1984 as The Orchestra of the Old Fairfield Academy in Fairfield Connecticut, the American Classical Orchestra has been based in New York City since 2005. Since moving to New York City, ACO has established itself as the leading period instrument ensemble in the City. The American Classical Orchestra’s annual concert series, held largely at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, has garnered critical acclaim.
In 2001, the American Classical Orchestra was invited to perform at the Metropolitan Museum during an exhibition entitled Art and the Empire City: New York, 1825– 1861. The ACO presented two works premiered in New York during that time period. Additional highlights of ACO’s 30 years include appearing as part of the Lincoln Center Great Performers Series, a sold-out 25th Anniversary performance of the Beethoven 9th Symphony at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and a staged a performance of Handel’s opera Alceste as part of the American Classical Orchestra’s survey of Handel’s work during Handelfest in 2014.
The American Classical Orchestra has numerous recordings with renowned artists such as Malcolm Bilson and R.J. Kelley. Among the works recorded by the American Classical Orchestra are the complete wind concerti by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (featuring ACO’s principal players as soloists), Mozart’s Symphony No. 14, K.144 and Mozart’s three Piano Concerti, K.107, with fortepianist Malcolm Bilson. In 2010, the American Classical Orchestra released a recording of Baroque oboe concerti with oboist Marc Schachman on the Centaur label. The American Classical Orchestra is dedicated to the appreciation and understanding of classical music through educational programs. Through its in-school programs, family concert series, and community outreach programs the orchestra has inspired hundreds of thousands of young students and musicians. The ACO’s educational mission is to spread historically-informed performance practices to new generations and instill a love for the music of the Baroque, Classical and early Romantic periods. For this work, the American Classical Orchestra was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant and Early Music America prize. An unusual feature of ACO concerts is that Music Director Thomas Crawford gives the pre-concert lecture, giving the audience first- hand insights into the performance.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets can be purchased on www.aconyc.org, lincolncenter.org or by calling Center Charge (212-721-6500) or by calling the Alice Tully Hall Box Office (212-671-4050) or in person at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office.
$93.50 Prime I, $73.50 Prime II, $53.50 Standard I, $33.50 Standard II and $15 Student (only at the Alice Tully Hall Box Office with proper student ID).
PROGRAM
J.S.Bach St. John Passion
Rufus Muller, evangelist
American Classical Orchestra and Chorus Soloists from the American Classical Orchestra Chorus
Teresa Wakim, soprano; Daniel Bubeck, countertenor; Dann Coakwell, tenor; Steven Wilson, tenor; Jesse Blumberg, baritone; Joseph Beutel, bass-baritone and Paul Max Tipton, baritone, who will sing the role of Jesus.
WEBSITE
www.aconyc.org
PRESS CONTACT
DAN DUTCHER PUBLIC RELATIONS, Dan Dutcher, 917- 566 -8413, dan@dandutcherpr.com
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