In celebration of its 15th year, on December 28 and 29, the national award-winning music organization Crescendo offers a Spanish Baroque comic opera—an art form hailed by the New Yorker as a “treasure” that is rarely experienced even in music centers such as New York and Boston.
Antonio de Líteres’s “Acis y Galatea” is an opera in two acts with a libretto by José de Cañizares. It was first performed in 1708, and quickly became one of the most famous of these works called “zarzuelas.” They flourished in late Baroque times and were a blend of songs, choruses and spoken passages, often quick-witted and satirical.
The opera tells the story of the love between mortal Acis and the sea-nymph Galatea. The singers are accompanied by traditional Baroque instruments and castanets. A small group of ensemble singers act as a traditional opera chorus, commenting in fast-moving and rhythmical responses on the dramatic action.
Performers are Salomé Sandoval, mezzo soprano guitar, percussion and co-director, Catherine Hancock, soprano, Sarah Fay, soprano, Malina Rauschenfels, mezzo soprano, Eric Miranda, baritone, and Thomas Schindler. They are joined by Crescendo’s Vocal Ensemble Singers, and period instrument players. Christine Gevert leads this semi-staged performance from the harpsichord in a collaboration with Ensemble El Fuego (Salomé Sandoval, Artistic Director).
Performances are Saturday, December 28 at 4pm at Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, MA, and Sunday, December 29 at 4pm at United Methodist Church, 319 Main St., Lakeville, CT (this is a new winter venue for our concerts). Tickets are $35 general; $60 premium, $10 students. For more information and tickets: www.worldclassmusic.org