Back to Bach with Apollo’s Fire @Fairmount Church 2/5/10


Whoever might think that Baroque music and/or concerts is boring has obviously never been to a concert by Apollo’s Fire. Believe me, they’re anything but!

Founder and music director Jeannette Sorrell must have the largest inter-cranial filing cabinet in the world, and it’s jammed with terrific notions and ideas, just begging to be given life. As in last year’s program explaining how Bach came to Leipzig, (Telemann refused the offer) we were again treated to a be-wigged and costumed Papa Bach as engagingly portrayed by local actor George Roth. In addition, this time, three of his sons were also brought forth in the person of younger actor, Tom White. Depending on coat and wig, he was variously Wilhelm Friedemann, Johann Christoph Friedrich and Carl Philipp Emanuel. (With some twenty children, Bach greatly favored multiple names for his progeny, even the daughters!)

All of the sons ventured into musical careers with widely divergent degrees of success. It’s hard to live up to such a successful and prolific papa. Especially one who apparently ran his household—and his school—with an iron hand, and no foolishness allowed.

For this presentation, a smaller than usual Apollo’s Fire contingent of string players took the 'stage' at the front of Fairmount Presbyterian Church, a new venue for the group. There were no winds, brass or percussion, just strings and harpsichord. They were entirely sufficient.

Opening and closing the concert were movements of a work by J.S. Bach, the Triple Concerto for violin (in D major, BWV 1064) as reconstructed from a lost work (for three harpsichords) by Ms. Sorrell. The alert and vigorous soloists in both portions were Olivier Brault, Johanna Novom and Adriane Post. Ms. Sorrell conducted the entire program from the harpsichord, with her back to the audience, except for one small segment in which she was the featured soloist, and the harpsichord was turned sideways.

Violinist Julie Andrijeski was the soloist in a concerto (also by papa Bach) in A minor, BWV 1041. Bach must have been in a happy time in his life when he wrote this piece, as it abounds in joyful, happy music. Ms. Andrijeski contributed a joyful, happy and very spirited performance. In another example of Papa’s mastery, cellist Rene Schiffer was masterful in the Allemande from Suite No. 6 for Unaccompanied Cello, BWV 1012. So many notes and chords emerge from this one instrument, it’s difficult to believe it really is just one instrument. Coincidentally, the composer was present for this performance, writing down the notes as they were played. There was a happy smile on his face, as he did so.

The final piece by papa (Finale from Sonata nach Violin Sonata in D minor BWV 964) was paired with a Fantasia in D Minor, F. 19 by Wilhelm Friedemann and performed by Ms. Sorrell at the harpsichord. In her brief introduction, she compared the Fantasia by the younger man who was perhaps unsure of himself to the polished virtuosic and fiery effort of the older man. An apt description, indeed.

Johann Christoph Friedrich was represented by a Sinfonia in D minor, W. I:3, a rather short, 3 movement work for strings. The Symphony No. 5 in B Minor (Wq. 182/5) by CPE Bach filled out the musical portion of the program quite nicely.

The script, written by Ms. Sorrell took the Bachs (père and son) into very recent local topics, as they were apparently experiencing difficulties with the town council. There was a difference of opinion regarding the extension of a contract which could potentially disrupt travel plans to the South Beach of Spain, where Papa Bach’s top 5 orchestra would give concerts, etc. Fortunately, at the very last moment, CPE was able to negotiate a settlement, and to the celebratory accompaniment of a spicy tango (played with joyous abandon by Mr. Schiffer and Mr. Brault) Ms. Sorrell and the two Bachs danced away to SoBe. One could almost feel the sunshine, in spite of the six inches or so of white fluffy stuff that decorated the ground outdoors while we were being happily entertained inside the warm sanctuary.

March 12-14, Apollo’s Fire will feature pianist Sergei Babayan as soloist. For information about upcoming concerts, visit the website: http://www.apollosfire.org or call the ticket office at 800-314-2535.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz, who writes: My most recently published book is Ardenwycke Unveiled (e-book and trade paper). Cerridwen has another contemporary romance from me, But Not For Love, currently available only as an e-book, but will perhaps be in print next year. I hope to soon get around to completing some of the 30+ incomplete books in my computer!

By the way, Cerridwen has also accepted two of my short stories in their Scintillating Samples (complimentary reads) area: Song of the Swan and Unexpected Comfort. I love photography as well, as you can see here. Occasionally I teach writing workshops and sometimes do editing or ghostwriting on a free-lance basis. But over and above everything else, there's always been the writing. I can't imagine my life without it.