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Sunday, 14 July, starting at 3:00 pm, Church on the Hill, 140 Bowdoin Street, Beacon Hill (Boston), the SONS OF LIBERTY FESTIVAL presents "ARCADIAN DUETS" featuring cantatas composed by George F. Handel in Italy. Based in Rome, his first commissions were from three powerful Cardinals. Then he was off to Florence, Naples, and Venice. Selected cantatas sung by Jessica Cooper, soprano; Von Bringhurst, countertenor; James Dargan, baritone; and Tamar Hestrin Grader, harpsichord.
Soprano Jessica Cooper is a San Diego native who was hailed as "a welcome addition to Boston's top rank of Handel sopranos," in her Boston solo debut. Praised by critics for a voice characterized by an earthy, core warmth capable of fiery agility and precision, Jessica's expressive performances have made her a favorite among Boston audiences. Ms Cooper makes regular appearances in top New England groups as both soloist and chamber artist. Performing repertoire ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to Classical and New Music, critics have called Jessica "wistful and melodious" in Purcell, as capable of "fiendishly difficult celebratory coloratura" in Handel, and of possessing "emotional intensity backed by technical security" in the modern music of John Harbison. Ms Cooper has appeared as a soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society, the Boston Cecilia, Emmanuel Music, Newton, Wellesley, and Nashua Symphonies, La Jolla Symphony and chorus, Portland Symphony and Chorus, Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra, live in recital on 89.7 WGBH radio and in numerous recital series in Boston, New England and abroad. Jessica was a finalist in the New England Regional Metropolitan National Council for Auditions for two years in a row, and was a first place winner of the National Association of the Teachers of Singing National Competition.
Von Bringhurst completed a two year Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree last May at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. He is a native of Pocatello, Idaho, where he also attended Idaho State University. In Idaho, he has been a soloist with the annual Messiah Sing-In and was a soloist with the Camerata Singers of Pocatello, Idaho. He has toured to Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Peru with his college Chamber Choir, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music with Honors in 2009.Von worked as Music Director for the Opera House Theater Company in Philipsburg, MT in the 2008 season and was Music Director and Cremona Player for the Illustrious Virginia City Players of Virginia City, MT for their 2010 season. He sings with the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in Cambridge for the 2012-2013 season. Von performed with Metro Stage Company's production of Chicago in October 2011, the Video Game Orchestra in 2011 and 2012, and as part of the Iberica Early Music Festival in August 2012, and with Xerces Blue Ensemble and triumvirate.
James Dargan is in increasingly great demand as an opera singer, concert soloist, and recitalist, and has been credited with "conversational flair" and a "creamy, rich quality" of voice. After degrees in literature, religion, and musicology from Boston and Leeds Universities, and a stint as a choral scholar at York Minster Cathedral (UK), James received voice lessons from Dr. Jerrold Pope and Liz Anker, and participated in masterclasses given by Lynn Torgove, Karyl Ryzcek, and Sondra Kelly; he has sung roles with Lowell House Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative, Helios Early Opera, the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Greater Worcester Opera, and OperaHub, and presented recitals at King's Chapel and St John's Episcopal Church, JP, as well as a recent recital debut at Trinity Cathedral in Miami. James also sings frequently at The Church of the Advent, is a new member of Emmanuel Music, a new addition to the roster of Boston Baroque, and is also a founding member of Xerces Blue Ensemble and triumvirate, and a soloist and section member of The Cantata Singers. As a violinist, James has had extensive training and experience in early music, improvisation, and all eras of chamber music; he has worked closely with Judy Tarling, Nicholas Kitchen, and members of the Juilliard String Quartet; he has performed in venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Boston's Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall, and Carnegie Hall; and premiered pieces by T.J. Anderson, Rodney Lister, and Penka Kouneva. In the fall of 2013, James will become a full time member of the professional choir of The Church of the Advent.
Tamar Hestrin Grader, a solo harpsichordist and continuo player with a particular interest in Baroque techniques of improvisation, has a solo repertoire that ranges throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods. She started playing the piano when she was ve, and harpsichord when she was sixteen, when she began working as a guide at the Russell Collection at St. Cecilia's Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. While completing her B.A. in Music at Harvard College, Tamar was President of the Harvard Organ Society, Co-General Manager of the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra, and a member of the board of the Harvard Early Music Society. In Boston, Tamar studied piano with Ya-Fei Chuang, and harpsichord with Peter Sykes. She has participated in masterclasses with John Kitchen, Arthur Haas, Jesper Christensen, Francis Fitch, Sarah Freiburg, Robert Levin, Gonzalo Ruiz, Judy Tarling, Paul Simmonds, Alison Crum, and Jane Hershey, and has attended the Amherst Baroque Academy, the Sommerakademie at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg, and the Piccola Accademia di Montisi. In her free time, Tamar enjoys playing clavichord, piano, organ, fortepiano, and viola da gamba. Tamar performs regularly with Xerces Blue Ensemble.
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LocationChurch on the Hill (View)
140 Bowdoin Street
Boston, MA 02108
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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