by Daniel Hathaway
TODAY’S STREAMS:
The Junction Trio (Stefan Jackiw, violin, Conrad Tao, piano, and Jay Campbell, cello) was scheduled to perform tonight on the Tuesday Musical Fuze Series in Akron. In lieu of their cancelled concert, click here to watch their performance of the second movement of Charles Ives’ Piano Trio.
Oberlin’s new Stage Left series makes its online debut tonight with a performance of Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto by harp professor Yolanda Kondonassis and the Oberlin Orchestra, Rafael Jiménez, conducting. The program includes a conversation with Kondonassis and Conservatory Dean William Quillen. Read a preview by Mike Telin here, and click here at 7:30 pm to watch the stream.
And frequent Cleveland Orchestra guest pianist Marc-André Hamelin plays a varied recital tonight from his home near Boston, sponsored by New York’s 92nd St. Y. Watch here at 7:30 pm.
CLASSICAL MUSIC ALMANAC FOR APRIL 14:
Yesterday’s Diary mentioned the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in Dublin in April of 1742. Seven years later, the composer died on this date at the age of 74. A crowd of 3,000 attended his funeral and burial in London’s Westminster Abbey on April 20, a service led by the Bishop of Rochester with music provided by the combined choirs of the Abbey, the Chapel Royal, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
What did they sing? The Funeral Sentences by William Croft, organist of the Abbey from 1708-1727, thereby launching a tradition that has persisted at every British state funeral since. Click here to hear them sung by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge under Sir David Willcocks in 1966. (Croft included one piece by his predecessor Henry Purcell, humbly explaining that ”The reason why I did not compose that verse anew (so as to render the whole service entirely of my own composition) is obvious to every Artist.”
For an interesting glimpse into the personal finances of one of the Baroque period’s most successful composers, here’s a detailed list of what Handel left to whom in his will and its four codicils.
UPDATE ON CANCELLATIONS:
Cleveland Chamber Music Society has cancelled its remaining concerts by James Ehnes & Andrew Armstrong on April 21 & the Albers Trio with David Bowlin on May 5.
The Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival has cancelled its 2020 concerts.
Encore Chamber Music has cancelled its summer season.
Kent/Blossom has cancelled its 2020 summer sessions at Kent State University, including faculty and student chamber music recitals.
