Go for Baroque....

New Trinity Baroque never fails to provide a satisfying performance. Their December 20 kept up that momentum. The group performed in the candle-lit St. Bartholomew's church. Predrag Gosta, the group's Founder and artistic Director conducted. The NTB tends to play more familiar works than The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra; for example, this program included works by Bach, Corelli, Vivaldi, Locatelli, Handel and Pachelbel. Only one piece, Corrette's Symphonie des Noels No. 4 was overtly seasonal music. Guest organist Shannon Gallier performed on the church's "Rosales" organ. Gallier's rendition of Bach's "Sleepers Awake" demonstrated the wonderful voices of the organ, and the composer's genius. Corelli's Concerto Grosso No. 4 featured the baroque violins of Evan Few and Ute Marks. They were superb and it's hard not to like such upbeat music. Vivaldi's Concerto for Strings in G minor was likewise thoroughly enjoyable. Corrette's Noel-symphony featured Gosta playing a chamber organ, whereas for most of the concert he played the harpsichord. The program ended with Pachelbel's very, very familiar Canon and Gigue in D minor. In this case familiarity did not breed contempt. It's beautiful music and benefits greatly from being played in a real baroque style, rather than the lumbering romanticized concert version. This program included William Hearn on the chitarrone, a large guitar (or lute) type instrument with a second neck to add additional strings and augment the bass. The NTB is a first-rate ensemble and serves to be heard by more people than were in the audience on Sunday. The only down side of the concert was sitting in the seats of St. Bartholomew's. They are terribly uncomfortable, with the top of their back hitting right in the middle of AMC's back. Other than that, it was a great concert.