Handel and Bach come to Brickworks

Submitted by the Salish Sea Music Festival

Salish Sea Music organizers are excited about its second performance this season on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. at Brickworks. Admission is by suggested donation of $15, $20 or $25, and youth under 18 are free.

This concert features works for a remarkable ensemble that existed only during the early decades of the 19th century by Leonardo de Call, Anton Bernhard Fürstenau and Joseph Küffner that have never before been performed in the Pacific Northwest – all performed on instruments made during Ludwig van Beethoven’s lifetime.

Elizabeth Paterson, of Review Vancouver.org, wrote, “Set side by side, the fluid, vivid music of Handel complementing and complemented by Bach’s rich, introvert poetry, the sonatas illuminated the wide emotional range offered by the Baroque period. From the beginning, the douce sound of Jeffrey Cohan’s baroque flute drew listeners in with charm and grace and was beautifully balanced by Lenti’s clear-flowing guitar playing. Cohan mastery of the flute was apparent throughout. Technically impressive with long, artfully framed lines, it is with his subtle variations of gesture, tempo, and dynamics that he unties beauty and expressiveness. In this he is ably abetted by John Lenti, whether playing gentle guitar or robust theorbo, his realizations invariably reinforced the flute and adorned the music. It was an evening elegant, unpretentious and altogether lovely.”

Cohan will play an 8-keyed flute of Jamaican cocuswood with silver ornamental rings and keys, made in London in 1820 by George Rudall with assistance from George Willis. In 1821 Rudall joined with flute maker John Mitchell Rose to make Rudall and Rose flutes, which have found their way into the hands of some of today’s most well-known flutists playing traditional Irish music. Oleg Timofeyev’s guitar was also made in 1820 in Russia.

For info, visit salishseafestival.org.