Fall Concerts
November Concert:
Nostalgic celebration
Fri Nov 22. 8pm. House concert in Sharon
Heights Menlo Park.
Sat Nov 23. 8pm. Congregation Etz
Chayim, 4161 Alma, Palo Alto.
Promo and livestream
Here’s the link. Check out our 3 minute promo with recordings from our 50 year history,
including pieces on this program. And a link to the livestream for the Saturday
concert.
Jonathan writes …
I’m surprised and happy
that after 50 years we’re still making music. We started as many do,
having finished college, disappointed that gigs were not rolling in, no
kids or financial responsibilities yet, but with hope that this one
would be the exception that would bring us fame and fortune.
Some fame, no
fortune, but longevity. A simple formula helped us to weather the years -
always watch for new musicians in town with willingness and skill - and
keep it fresh. I never auditioned anyone - a bit of research, I’d invite
them to play, if it worked out they would stay for a
while. 500 concerts and 500 musicians later, it hasn’t changed. “Why not” and “what if” are our driving
forces. I come with a plan and I’m happy if it evolves differently. We pay
union rates, enough that it’s not abuse, not enough to be doing it for
the money.
One of the great
delights has been to learn from so many excellent colleagues. Collaborations
with Black Box Baroque for operas and the traveling choir from
University of Köln cemented important friendships. We don’t record, other than one nice but accidental CD, thanks to a
wonderful sponsor, and live concert youtubes,
thanks to a fine videographer. The pandemic helped us learn how to work
together online. Marion and I are not strategic planners; while I can still
wield a mean harpsichord we’ll probably keep
giving concerts.
For this set, we
revisit favorite pieces that we have done many times in the past - Bach’s own
transcription of the Fourth Brandenburg Concerto for harpsichord solo,
Telemann’s Double Concerto for recorder and flute, and Berkeley composer
Sheli Nan’s Absinthe avec mes amis.
Plus Purcell, Boismortier
and Froberger. Most of all, we hope you’ll be
there. And stay in touch.
A message from co-founder Marion Rubinstein
This year marks the 50th year of the founding of The
Albany Consort. Fifty years ago, a small group of friends, barely
out of graduate school, had so much fun playing together that we
decided to put on a concert. We asked the organist at Christ
Church, Albany Street, London, if we could use his church, and
The Albany Consort was born.
For fifty years we have delighted our audiences with
lively, casual concerts. Often we have
served food to recreate the warmth and intimacy of the 18th
century. We perform locally, to attract our friends and neighbors. We
hope to continue to give you this wonderful music, and we need you to
keep coming and bringing more people to our performances.
For the first concert in 1974, we played the
harpsichord version of Bach s Brandenburg Concerto #4,
since we had two enthusiastic recorder players and a budding virtuoso
harpsichordist. We will repeat this same work and others from our past
programs this coming season. After the first concert, the group
put on hundreds of other concerts in England, until Jonathan moved to
California to join Marion, who was back in the States.
We continue to operate on a shoestring, however.
Unlike the early years, when all the musicians were volunteers,
we guarantee all our musicians a set fee for each
concert. When audiences are small, we incur losses, which we
finance ourselves. Most of the time, through our generous donors
and occasional grant money, we are able if not to break even, at least
to not lose too much. Donations to offset costs are always highly
appreciated.
50 years is rare for music groups. Come
celebrate with us!
Tickets and Donations
At the height of the pandemic, when concerts were all on
zoom or livestream, we gave free concerts. Now we’re in a hybrid mode between
live concerts and streamed events. These concerts will be recorded and streamed
at a later time. To keep us in business we re doing tickets and requesting donations. Ticket price is
$35 with a family rate of $95. But whatever you can give us is fine, including
just a dollar or two or even nothing at all. Concerts have expenses: our
musicians are professionals, giving up other work to be part of The Albany
Consort, and we rent the venues we use. Tickets, donations and our savings have to cover our costs. All donations received help us to
fund this and future productions, and we are very appreciative of your ongoing
support. Thanks!
Previous Albany Consort concerts
The Albany Consort
Stay in touch, here are the ways:
408.480.0182
1071 Blair Ave, Sunnyvale Ca 94087, USA