Unearth early music's most playful works, reimagined with roots music energy.

Ruckus is a shapeshifting, collaborative ensemble with a visceral and playful approach to early music. The NYC-based ensemble aims to fuse the early-music movement's questing, creative spirit with the grit, groove and jangle of American roots music, creating a unique sound of "rough-edged intensity" (New Yorker). Ruckus' core is a continuo group, the baroque equivalent of a jazz rhythm section: guitars, keyboards, cello, bassoon and bass. Its members are among the most creative and virtuosic performers in North American early music. At the Hop, they are joined by flutist Emi Ferguson and violinist Rachell Ellen Wong to perform Strawberry Fields, a program featuring works by Handel and Sancho, and English Country Dances.

Listen (and even dance) your way through the future of the past.

The Wild, the Weird, and the Misunderstood

APRIL 11, 7:30 p.m. in Saint Paul (Sundin Hall - 1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)*
APRIL 12, 7:30 p.m. ​in Rochester (Mt Olive Lutheran Church - 2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)*
*please note that the Friday concert is in St. Paul and the Saturday concert is in Rochester this cycle, opposite of our usual schedule

MASTERWORKS BY VIVALDI, LOCKE, PURCELL, DURANTE, AND BACH & SONS.

The Wild, the Weird, and the Misunderstood

APRIL 11, 7:30 p.m. in Saint Paul (Sundin Hall - 1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)*
APRIL 12, 7:30 p.m. ​in Rochester (Mt Olive Lutheran Church - 2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)*
*please note that the Friday concert is in St. Paul and the Saturday concert is in Rochester this cycle, opposite of our usual schedule

MASTERWORKS BY VIVALDI, LOCKE, PURCELL, DURANTE, AND BACH & SONS.

Overview

Indulge in the timeless beauty of music at Caramoor with Twelfth Night, a period instrument ensemble led by led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong. Immerse yourself in the vibrant and expressive tapestry of baroque melodies of Vivaldi’s Il Giustino, characterized by its lively rhythms, ornate harmonies, and dramatic contrasts. Then, experience the exquisite sounds of Aminta e Fillide, George Frideric Handel’s pastoral cantata from 1708, evoking a world of unrequited love and longing. Renowned for its lush melodies and emotive storytelling, this cherished Baroque masterpiece offers a captivating journey through the depths of human emotion.

Artists

Rachell Ellen Wong, violin & direction
David Belkovski, harpsichord & direction
Carmen Lavada Johnson-Pájaro, violin
Andrew Gonzalez, viola
Coleman Itzkoff, cello
Kevin Payne, theorbo & guitar
Nola Richardson, soprano
Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo-soprano

Program

TROUBLE IN PARADISE
Vivaldi: Sinfonia from Il Giustino, RV 717
Handel: Aminta e Fillide, HWV 83

Inspiración presents a dynamic journey through diverse musical landscapes, from the vibrant streets of Madrid to the rhythmic pulse of Panama. The program opens with Boccherini’s evocative Night Music on the Streets of Madrid, followed by Chiquinha Gonzaga's lively Brazilian Corta Jaca. William Grant Still’s *Panamanian Dances* brings folk-inspired melodies to the forefront, while Pedro Ximenez Abril Tirado’s Concertante Quartetto offers a modern, hybrid exploration of European harmonies mixed with natural harmonies to Peru and Bolivia. The second half features Manuel Ponce’s lyrical but fiery Duo for Violin and Viola, concluding with Boccherini’s spirited Fandango, celebrating the passion of Spanish folk dance.

Join us for this FREE concert at the sublime United Palace Theater! Reserve your seat while you can!

Twelfth Night Ensemble

Handel’s Aminta e Fillide

Nola Richardson, soprano and Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo-soprano
Rachell Ellen Wong & David Belkovski, artistic directors

Twelfth Night, the refreshingly new ensemble of young stars directed by violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and keyboardist David Belkovski, offers a scintillating program featuring Handel’s Aminta e Fillide, a pastoral cantata. Aminta and Fillide, the cantata’s shepherd and nymph, pursue each other through a mythological Greek landscape in arias both virtuosic and poignant. To round out a captivating program, the group performs Vivaldi’s electric sinfonia from his opera, Il Giustino.

Twelfth Night Ensemble

Handel’s Aminta e Fillide

Nola Richardson, soprano and Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo-soprano
Rachell Ellen Wong & David Belkovski, artistic directors

Twelfth Night, the refreshingly new ensemble of young stars directed by violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and keyboardist David Belkovski, offers a scintillating program featuring Handel’s Aminta e Fillide, a pastoral cantata. Aminta and Fillide, the cantata’s shepherd and nymph, pursue each other through a mythological Greek landscape in arias both virtuosic and poignant. To round out a captivating program, the group performs Vivaldi’s electric sinfonia from his opera, Il Giustino.

Chamber Music at the Theater
Monday, Mar 10, 7:00 PM

Mozart with Rachell Ellen Wong and The Cong Quartet

Fortepianist Yi-heng Yang, Twelfth Night Ensemble, and Aquila Theatre are collaborating on a special performance for this Thanksgiving Weekend at the Doctorow Center for the Arts featuring the double concerti of Mozart with spoken word dramatizations of the life of Mozart performed by actors from the renowned Aquila Theatre.

Based in NYC, Twelfth Night is an ensemble of historical performance specialists led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, formed with the firm belief that art is best explored as a meeting place of the past, present, and future.

Pianist and fortepianist Yi-heng Yang has been described as an “exquisite collaborator” (Opera News), “superbly adept (Gramophone) and noted for her “remarkable expressivity and technique (Early Music Magazine). Ms. Yang is a co-founder of the Academy of Fortepiano Performance and co-founder of the International Fortepiano Virtual Salon Series.

Aquila Theatre is one of the foremost producers of classical theatre in the United States and has been bringing audiences world-class actors, captivating designs, innovative adaptations, and impactful direction since 1991.

RUCKUS featuring Emi Ferguson, flute and Rachell Ellen Wong, violin

Strawberry Fields: A joyous feast of rustic dances from the 18th century

RUCKUS featuring Emi Ferguson, flute and Rachell Ellen Wong, violin

Strawberry Fields: A joyous feast of rustic dances from the 18th century

Ruckus is a shapeshifting, collaborative baroque ensemble with a visceral and playful approach to early music. Described as “the world’s only period-instrument rock band” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Ruckus’ core is a continuo group, the baroque equivalent of a jazz rhythm section: guitars, keyboards, cello, bassoon and bass. The NYC-based ensemble aims to fuse the early-music movement’s questing, creative spirit with the grit, groove and jangle of American roots music, creating a unique sound of “rough-edged intensity” (New Yorker) that’s “achingly delicate one moment, incisive and punchy the next” (New York Times). The group’s members are among the most creative and virtuosic performers in North American early music. 

Ruckus is a shapeshifting, collaborative baroque ensemble with a visceral and playful approach to early music. Described as “the world’s only period-instrument rock band” (San Francisco Classical Voice), Ruckus’ core is a continuo group, the baroque equivalent of a jazz rhythm section: guitars, keyboards, cello, bassoon and bass. The NYC-based ensemble aims to fuse the early-music movement’s questing, creative spirit with the grit, groove and jangle of American roots music, creating a unique sound of “rough-edged intensity” (New Yorker) that’s “achingly delicate one moment, incisive and punchy the next” (New York Times). The group’s members are among the most creative and virtuosic performers in North American early music. 

RUCKUS featuring Emi Ferguson, flute and Rachell Ellen Wong, violin

Strawberry Fields: A joyous feast of rustic dances from the 18th century

“Love and Laurels”

Nola Richardson, soprano
Roderick Williams OBE, baritone

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759): Overture from Partenope, HWV 27
HANDEL: Rigaudon from Radamisto, HWV 12
Johann Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758): Sonata à 4 in D minor
—
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759): Cantata Apollo e Dafne, HWV 122

Twelfth Night presents a night of unforgettable music in a spectacular venue. Divided by an ocean and living more than a century apart, Pedro Ximenez and George Frideric Handel represent the two vibrant cultures of Peru and Italy. In spite of any differences, they eagerly drew on the artistic traditions buzzing around them. Ximenez’ music deftly weaves folk song around classical structures while Handel derived his inspiration from ancient Roman stories. Join Twelfth Night at the United Palace for this special night! 

“Love and Laurels”

Led by virtuoso violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski, the dynamic ensemble Twelfth Night returns to Pittsburgh with a program featuring British baritone Roderick Williams OBE and American soprano Nola Richardson centered around George Frideric Handel’s fabulous cantata Apollo e Dafne. Based on the mythological tale of vain, amorous pursuit, Apollo e Dafne showcases the operatic flair of a very young Handel, where we see his incredible talent for drama, orchestration, and heartrendingly beautiful melody.

ARTISTS

Twelfth Night Ensemble
Roderick Williams baritone
Nola Richardson soprano

FEATURED CONCERT

The Twelfth Night Ensemble

NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL AT BENAROYA

The English Orpheus
Rachell Ellen Wong & David Belkovski, directors

Based in New York City, Twelfth Night is an ensemble of historical performance specialists led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, formed with the firm belief that art is best explored as a meeting place of the past, present, and future. Twelfth Night projects and engagements range from small chamber music to larger orchestral and operatic productions.

The English Orpheus features a program of works by Purcell, Locke, Handel, Neil Gow, Porpora, and more.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

28.09.2024, 10:30

Mützenhalle Filzmoos

Ilumina at Kronberg Festival

• Thursday, September 26, 2024

• 7:45 PM 10:00 PM

Guest artists Rachell Ellen Wong and Guido Sant’Anna

Thu 26.9.19:45 - 22:00

Großer Saal, Casals Forum

Linda Chesis (flute), Rachell Ellen Wong (violin), Glimmerglass Festival Young Artist Winona Martin (mezzo-soprano), Wolfram Koessel (cello), and Bradley Brookshire (harpsichord) join forces for an evening of instrumental and vocal masterworks by JS Bach.

Manuel M. Ponce  – Sonata a Duo for Violin and Viola (1938)

Piazzolla – Primavera Porteña (1969)

Ponce  – Estrellita (arr. for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz)

From pleasing to provocative, intellectual to insouciant, this program sheds light on the many facets of 20th-century Mexican and Argentinian classical compositions. Feel the passion and intensity of the tango in Piazzola’s renowned “Seasons”, juxtaposed with the exhilarating and profound string quartet “Música de Feria” by Revueltas. The program also features the graceful compositions of Manuel Ponce, offering a glimpse into the elegant charm of his musical creations. Works by 20th-century composers Alberto Ginastera (Argentina) and Mario Lavista (Mexico) top off an exciting and varied program.

All are invited to join the musicians for a closing celebration after the concert.

William Grant Still – Danzas de Panama for String Quartet (1948) | II & IV

Aaron Copland made four highly publicized government-sponsored trips to Latin America between 1941 and 1963. During these visits, he shared contemporary American concert music with Latin American audiences, including his own violin sonata, heard on tonight’s program. Back home, he drew US attention to the composers and musicians he met in Latin America, such as Heitor Villa-Lobos of Brazil and Silvestre Revueltas and Manuel Ponce of Mexico, all whom Copland knew personally and whose works are also featured. Another contemporary of Copland was the Black American composer William Grant Still, whose Panamanian Dances were inspired by a collection of Latin American folk songs. The history of Pan-American musical exchange predates Copland. This program also includes music by pianist-composer Edward MacDowell, an American student of the Venezuelan pianist and composer Teresa Carreño, and composer-pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk, who traveled extensively throughout Latin America. UC Davis musicology professor Carol Hess will speak before the concert about musical diplomacy and cultural exchange in the Americas.

Pablo de Sarasate, Carmen Fantasy (arr. for string ensemble)

Discover a harmonious fusion of serenity and exuberance come together at Buena Vista Winery. Our stage will be the enchanting Fountain Courtyard, framed by the historic backdrop of the 1864 Champagne Cellar. Savor the exquisite selection of Buena Vista’s wines as they complement the sultry notes of Villa-Lobos’ ‘Bachianas Brasileiras No.5’ and the fiery passion of Pablo de Sarasate’s ‘Carmen Fantasy’. Immerse yourself in the grand finale of our Alfresco series, where the blend of music, high-quality wines, and the breathtaking sunset creates an unforgettable evening.  

Maurice Ravel: Piano Trio M. 67

Immerse yourself in the vibrant sounds of Brazil as we bring to life the musical genius of GRAMMY-award winning Brazilian guitarist, composer, and arranger Sergio Assad (b. 1953). Renowned for his captivating duo performances with his brother Odair Assad and frequent collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and other luminaries, Assad stands as one of today’s most prolific composers for the guitar. The program presents Assad’s music alongside that of his Brazilian forebears, Antonio Carlos Gomes and Heitor Villa-Lobos, as well as his European influences, Darius Milhaud and Maurice Ravel. Bay Area guitarist—and friend of Assad’s—Marc Teicholz makes his Festival debut for this Brazilian panorama.