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Bach Festival @ Baldwin-Wallace College 4/17-19 Q: “Is it possible to hear too much Bach?” A feast of Bach that included the “Christmas Oratorio” plus a bit of Corelli, Kapsberger, and others filled three days in freshly “Springed” Berea (amazingly, the whole weekend was sunny). A: By Sunday afternoon, despite feeling a bit hung over, musically-speaking, the answer must be “No.” The college singers and orchestra and the “hired guns” brought in to supplement Baldwin-Wallace student performers gave fresh life to the works and even provided moments of surprise. The Art of Fugue, for example, brought a sense of delighted recognition when CO5 and Friends (all members of the Cleveland Orchestra) turned the classic keyboard exercise into a romp for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and strings. The Chatham Baroque’s sprightly renditions of early hits suggested baroque and bluegrass have more good things in common than the letter B.

The centerpiece of the Festival was the Christmas Oratorio, conduced with nuanced and sensitive interpretation by Dwight Oltman. Soprano Tamara Matthews and mezzo Marietta Simpson sang a dramatic and gorgeous duet that was as lush as anything in a secular opera. Baritone Christopheren Nomura delivered an authoritative interpretation. Last-minute substitute, appealing performer Isaiah Bell, is a young “tenor to watch.” The responsive choir, directed by new B-W faculty member Dirk Garner, swayed to the beat and made old Bach seem “hip.” Those who have yet to try a “Bach Out” weekend have another chance next year at the 78th annual Bach Festival set for April 16--18, 2010. Shall I “double-dog dare” you to test your Bach tolerance? (Note: This note of defensiveness is due to the recent practice of strip shopping malls to play classical music to deter loiterers the way airports play bird distress calls to drive away starlings. But that’s another column.)

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com
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