Bach at New Year’s: Brandenburgs PLUS!

Dates: December 30, 31, and January 1

Locations: Northampton, MA, Great Barrington, MA, Troy, NY

The Berkshire Bach Society represents the finest Bach in the Berkshires and boasts one of the greatest ensembles in the country, The Berkshire Bach Ensemble, led by the world-renowned harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper.

This year’s Bach at New Year’s event features nineteen world-class virtuosi in a celebratory concert including Joseph Silverstein and Eugene Drucker.

On the program will be a delicious Concerto for two horns, two oboes and solo violin by the irrepressible Antonio Vivaldi, the ever-popular Bach Double Concerto for Violin and Oboe in a new reconstruction by Dr. Cooper allowing more of Bach’s original music to be heard than ever before, and the devilish Harpsichord Concerto No. 15 in D minor by Handel (stolen largely from Telemann) with a special cadenza by harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper.

The musical party will be rounded out by Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti Nos. 2 and 3, the latter in Berkshire Bach’s own special version with lots of winds, an idea that originated with the old master himself. Guest artist for the evening will be violinist Joseph Silverstein, who has been a great friend of Berkshire Bach for many years.  And, among the many brilliant soloists will be Eugene Drucker. 

(Pictured here: Eugene Drucker, Irena Momchilova, Ani Kavafian, Joseph Silverstein.)

This year Berkshire Bach takes pleasure in making its first appearance – as a Pre-First Night celebration – at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA, while enjoying the hospitality of its two traditional venues, The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA and the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, NY.

THE BERKSHIRE BACH SOCIETY is dedicated to sharing the vast and wonderful repertoire of music by Johann Sebastian Bach, his contemporaries, the composers who influenced his work and those he inspired to achieve musical timelessness. Berkshire Bach seeks to reach the broadest possible audience for the works of J.S. Bach and his musical peers, mentors and followers, engaging the finest musicians available. As the oldest continuing member-based non-profit music organization in Berkshire County, Berkshire Bach focuses on enriching audiences with concerts that range from solo instrumental recitals to large choral works with full orchestra.  Visit www.berkshirebach.org for more information.