Apollo’s Fire and soprano Amanda Forsythe stoke ‘The Power of Love’ Nov. 17 at Schwab
Apollo’s Fire, The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra—directed by harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell and accompanied by soprano Amanda Forsythe—will perform “The Power of Love: Passions of Handel and Vivaldi” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Schwab Auditorium.
The concert will explore love, angst and revenge in arias by George Frideric Handel and concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. The program will also feature Sorrell’s acclaimed arrangement of Vivaldi’s “La Folia,” which the orchestra performs from memory.
Apollo’s Fire, making its fourth appearance at Penn State, will also perform at a free and informal Classical Coffeehouse while in residence at the university.
Purchase tickets for the Nov. 17 concert, which are $44 for an adult, $19 for a University Park student, and $34 for a person 18 and younger. A grant from the University Park Allocation Committee makes Penn State student prices possible.
Called the United States’ “hottest Baroque band” by Classical Music Magazine, Apollo’s Fire was founded in 1992 by conductor Sorrell as a way for expert musicians in the Renaissance, Baroque and early classical genres to exercise their talents and to explore the concept of ancient music performance.
The orchestra, which often performs for full houses in Cleveland, sold out its 2015 debut concert at the Tanglewood festival. The ensemble has also performed sell-out concerts throughout Europe, including at BBC Proms and the Aldeburgh Festival in the United Kingdom; Madrid’s Royal Theatre; and the Grand Théàtre de l’ Opéra in Bordeaux, France.
Artistic Viewpoints, an informal conversation between Sorrell and Marica Tacconi, Penn State professor of musicology, takes place in Schwab one hour before the concert and is free for ticket holders.
This presentation is a component of the Center for the Performing Arts Classical Music Project.
With support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the project provides opportunities to engage students, faculty and the community with classical music artists and programs.
Juniper Village at Brookline sponsors the concert. WPSU is the media sponsor. The Nina C. Brown Endowment provides support.
Related no-cost Classical Coffeehouse
Apollo’s Fire will perform and discuss selected music in a Classical Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in Hintz Family Alumni Center’s Robb Hall. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Attendees will receive a Classical Coffeehouse mug, while supply lasts. Each Penn State student in attendance will receive—at the end of the coffeehouse—a voucher for a serving of Berkey Creamery ice cream.
Classical Coffeehouse is presented in partnership with the Blue & White Society and the Penn State Alumni Association. Penn State Council of LionHearts also provides support.
For more information about Apollo’s Fire and engagement activities at Penn State, go to The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra.
Watch a video of the ensemble performing the first movement of Johannes Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1.