by Daniel Hathaway
LES DÉLICES LAUNCHES SALONERA SERIES TODAY:
Cleveland’s mostly French Baroque ensemble wades into new waters with its every-other-Monday SalonEra series, which premieres online tonight at 7:30 pm. The first episode of the series, which has been specifically designed for interactive viewing on the internet, will feature an all-J.S. Bach program performed by soprano Sherezade Panthaki, violinist Shelby Yamin, keyboardist Eric Milnes, and violist da gamba Mélisande Corriveau. The series is free, though a $10 donation is suggested, and can be viewed on several platforms (see the Concert Listings for details and click here to view the calendar of forthcoming programs.)
INTERESTING READS:
As some organizations begin taking exploratory steps to offer live performances once again, New York Times critic Anthony Tomassini writes about the difference between live and virtual concerts with reference to recitals of both types by pianist Conrad Tao. And his colleagues Joshua Barone and Zachary Woolfe reflect on their experience attending the same in-person concert after being deprived for nearly half a year: they heard the JACK Quartet playing in a New Jersey parking lot.
And as performing arts schools begin their fall semesters virtually or in-person, three Washington Post arts writers survey a number of officials — including Oberlin Conservatory Dean William Quillen — about the challenges ahead.
TODAY’S ALMANAC:
The late American composer Stephan Paulus was born on this date in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, though he spent most of his career in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. His life was tragically cut short by a stroke which led to his death in 2014.
His some 450 works are dominated by choral pieces of all dimensions and the four operas he wrote for the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Paulus was a popular composer-in-residence, having served in that position with the Atlanta Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the orchestras of Tucson and Annapolis.
Organist Paul Jacobs performed his Grand Concerto with The Cleveland Orchestra in 2017, and Elizabeth Lentl soloed in his smaller Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Percussion with Trinity Chamber Orchestra at a Trinity Cathedral Brownbag Concert in 2012. Watch the latter performance here.
For a taste of Paulus’ choral music, click here to watch the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus sing his “Wonder Tidings” from Three Nativity Carols at Rocky River Presbyterian Church in 2013.
