The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
The New Baroque Soloists to perform in Washington
WASHINGTON » On Friday July 21 at 5:30 p.m., The New Baroque Soloists lead by Artistic Director Douglas Myers are performing the first of four concerts in the Historic Meeting House at the Washington Green.
This is the 5th annual Summer Concert Festival of Washington Friends of Music. The program includes compositions by Bach, Telemann and Quantz and features solos by internationally acclaimed members of the chamber orchestra.
Theodore “Teddy” Arm will play a violin solo sonata by J. S. Bach at his premiere with The New Baroque Soloists. Mr. Arm has performed throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia, incl. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Chamber Music Hall at the Seoul Arts Center. He is a favorite at Music Festivals, Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, Oregon and Music from Angel Fire, New Mexico and has produced numerous recordings. He also has had several works written for him, including a violin chamber suite by Gabriela Frank that was premiered at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Arm, who holds a Doctorate in Performance from The Juilliard School, is currently Adjunct Professor of Violin at Connecticut College.
Samuel Magill of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, is presenting a solo sonata for violoncello by Henry Eccles. Magill has had a rich and varied career as soloist and chamber musician. A former member of the Houston Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony, he has appeared throughout Japan and the U.S, including performances of the Schumann Concerto, the Brahms Double Concerto in Tokyo’s famed Suntory Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and the Weill Recital Hall. Magill is a co-founder of The Elysian Ensemble, a Flute, Cello and Harp trio. His recordings include chamber music as well as cello sonatas with pianist Beth Levin by various composers.
Ben Woodward, guest organist from London, will perform the “great” Fantasia in g minor by Bach. He studied organ and opera
in England. In Connecticut he was Organist and Director of Music at St. Mary’s Church in Stamford and Organist at Christ Church in Greenwich, where he met Douglas Myers, the Artistic Director of the New Baroque Soloists. He went back to London, founded the Fulham Opera and led various performances, including the complete Ring Cycle. Woodward recently covered a sabbatical for a member of the music staff at the Staatsoper Hannover in Germany, where he played for Henze’s Die englische Katze and Hänsel und Gretel, and conducted rehearsals of Carmen and Der fliegende Holländer. In the 2017-18 season he will return to London to conduct Otello, Don Carlo as well as the B Minor Mass with the Fulham Opera.
As an added benefit, the musicians introduce each piece about to be performed and enlighten listeners on the composer, the instrument, and historical context in an entertaining fashion.
The audience is invited to a reception with the musicians after the concert with champagne and snacks. The WFM concert festival continues on consecutive Fridays at 5:30 p.m. on July 28, Aug. 4 and 11.
The concert house is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. Information and tickets available online at by phone 860-868-9174, or at the Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot. Tickets are $20 for first-time guests, $25 in advance or $90 for all 4 concerts, $30 at the door, $10 for students. Children are welcome and admitted free of charge.