FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra welcomes Richard Egarr as guest conductor for historically informed performances of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
CONTACT:
Dianne Provenzano
Marketing & Communications Director
press@philharmonia.org
(415) 252-1288 x 315
SAN FRANCISCO – BERKELEY – PALO ALTO
October 22, 2015, San Francisco – In November, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra welcomes acclaimed conductor and harpsichordist from the Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr, to guest conduct the orchestra in historically informed performances of Bach’s popular Brandenburg Concertos.
Richard Egarr has been Music Director of the Academy of Ancient Music since 2006, and is also Principal Guest Conductor of The Hague Philharmonic and Associate Artist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He has a flourishing career as a guest conductor with orchestras ranging from Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society to the London Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw and Philadelphia orchestras.
Egarr is listed as both conductor and harpsichordist for these concerts as he will perform as part of the ensemble.
“This repertoire is really big chamber music and it’s important, I feel, not to be conducting something like the Brandenburgs” says Egarr. “It’s very nice to be in the ensemble playing with the other players. I think it’s a nice working family atmosphere which is very nice to be a part of.”
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra music director, Nicholas McGegan – who is celebrating his 30thseason with the orchestra – selected the repertoire as the second concert set of the 2015/2016 season.
“[The Brandenburgs] are some of the most wonderful of all Baroque music. Bach wrote them in the teens of the 18th century. They are wonderful for Philharmonia because they feature so many of the musicians in a solo role” says McGegan.
The Brandenburg Concertos are Bach’s most popular examples of instrumental music. But despite their familiarity today, the Royal Margrave to whom they were given as a gift never heard them performed in his own lifetime. It was only 100 years later that these pieces were rediscovered, and begun to be recognized as the finest orchestral music of the Baroque period.
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos Nos 1, 3, 5 and 4 with Richard Egarr throughout the San Francisco Bay Area starting November 12 at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco followed by a sold-out performance at Bing Concert Hall in Palo Alto on November 13 and at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday November 15.
Tickets start at $25. For more information about this and other 2015-16 Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra concerts, visit philharmonia.org. For tickets, visit cityboxoffice.com or call 415-392-4400.
These concerts are the second set in a series of six regular 2015-16 season concerts as Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra celebrates its 35th season as an orchestra and Nicholas McGegan celebrates his 30th anniversary as music director.
Program notes about Bach’s Brandenburgs available here.
Philharmonia continues its partnership with Classical KDFC, broadcasting an unreleased live concert recording the second Sunday of every month from 8-9 PM.
Classical KDFC is the radio home of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
WHO: Richard Egarr with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
PHOTOGRAPHY: (Click to download)
Richard Egarr, conductor, harpsichord
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra: Photo by Suzanne Karp
WHAT: Concert Performance
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
No. 1 in F major
No. 3 in G major
No. 5 in D major
No. 4 in G major
PRICE: Starting at $25
TICKETS: Single tickets at City Box Office 415-392-4400 or cityboxoffice.com
WHEN/WHERE:
Thursday, November 12 @ 8:00 p.m.
Herbst Theatre in San Francisco
Friday, November 13 @ 7:30 pm (SOLD OUT)
Bing Concert Hall in Palo Alto
Saturday, November 14 @ 8:00 pm
First Congregational Church in Berkeley
Sunday, November 15 @ 4:00 pm
First Congregational Church in Berkeley
Short Description:
Your favorite classics, Bach’s enduring Brandenburg Concertos illuminate the unique colors of Baroque harpsichord, oboes, flutes, and hunting horns. Acclaimed Music Director from the Academy of Ancient Music, Richard Egarr, showcases Philharmonia’s orchestral virtuosity as he joins them as guest conductor and harpsichordist in these historically informed performances.
