Thomas Harper, a tenor who sings with Seattle Opera, is the featured soloist when Trinity Lutheran Church of Lynnwood presents two Services of Vespers this month.
The programs will include complete performances of Cantata 156 by J.S. Bach, with accompaniment by a recorder, string ensemble and organist.
The music will be performed as it would have been presented in the churches of Leipzig, Germany, in Bach’s day, according to Norma Aamodt-Nelson, Trinity’s minister of music.
She is the organist for the performances and will be playing on pipe organs built by noted organ builder Martin Pasi.
Thomas Harper made his U.S. debut as Mime in Seattle Opera’s 1991 presentation of Wagner’s “Ring” and returns for the role in this summer’s production of the Wagner cycle at Seattle Opera.
The Vesper concerts are Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church in Redmond and Jan. 30 at Trinity Lutheran in Lynnwood.
Viva Vivaldi: Any listing of top-10 favorites in the world of classical music usually includes Antonio Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
There are several opportunities this weekend to take a musical tour of the seasons and hear other compositions by the great Italian composer of baroque music in Seattle concert halls.
The Seattle Symphony presents a selection of his concertos and other works in three Basically Baroque concerts today through Sunday at Benaroya Hall. Violinist Jaime Laredo is the conductor of a chamber ensemble that includes bassoon, trumpets, violins and cello.
The Seattle Baroque Orchestra performs “Vivaldi in Venice,” which includes works by Vivaldi and others this weekend in the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall.
The Vivaldi works include Concertos in B Minor and D Major for four violins and the Sonata in D Minor “Folia” for two violins and continuo. Also on the program are music by Claudio Monteverdi, Biagio Marini, Anna Bon and Giovanni Legrenzi.
Harpsichordist Byron Schenkman leads the string orchestra.
Musical menu: East meets West meets a few places in between when the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra serves up “International Buffet” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus.
Adam Stern conducts the orchestra in a program of short works from different lands and cultures including music by Beethoven, Smetana, De La Vega and Rimsky-Korsakov.
A five-course meal includes a Beethoven appetizer with the overture from the opera “Fidelio;” entrees served to the sounds of “The Bartered Bride” by Smetana and the “Russian Easter Overture” by Rimsky-Korsakov; and a spicy side dish accompanying the rarely heard “Intrata” by Cuban composer Aurelio de la Vega.
The main course is Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” featuring pianist Sophie Lippert. Dessert comes with the premiere of “Fanfare for a Festive Occasion No. 1” by Clarence Acox, award-winning composer, teacher and jazz band director at Garfield High School.
Where to hear it
Service of Vespers: 7 p.m. Sunday, Faith Lutheran Church, 9041 166th Ave. NE, Redmond; 7 p.m. Jan. 30, Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. Free-will offering at the door; 425-778-2159, 425-745-1316.
Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”: A Seattle Symphony Basically Baroque concert at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org.
Seattle Baroque Orchestra: 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Benaroya Hall, Seattle. $10-$34, 206-322-3118, www.seattlebaroque.org.
“International Buffet”: Seattle Philharmonic concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Meany Hall, University of Washington. $8-$40, 206-528-6878, 206-292-ARTS and at the door; www.seattlephil.com.
Where to hear it
Service of Vespers: 7 p.m. Sunday, Faith Lutheran Church, 9041 166th Ave. NE, Redmond; 7 p.m. Jan. 30, Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. Free-will offering at the door; 425-778-2159, 425-745-1316.
Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”: A Seattle Symphony Basically Baroque concert at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org.
Seattle Baroque Orchestra: 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Benaroya Hall, Seattle. $10-$34, 206-322-3118, www.seattlebaroque.org.
“International Buffet”: Seattle Philharmonic concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Meany Hall, University of Washington. $8-$40, 206-528-6878, 206-292-ARTS and at the door; www.seattlephil.com.
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