* Notes *
Les Violons du Roy and Bernard Labadie (pictured left, photo by Luc Delisle) had a second performance at Berkeley's Cal Performances yesterday. This one featured the ensemble's harpsichordist, Alexander Weimann. The entire program consisted of pieces by J.S. Bach. Again, Labadie got a lot of airiness out of the players, the playing was together and smooth. There were times when the contrast between the modern instruments and the harpsichord was obvious and even jarring. Weimann did well in the Harpsichord Concerto in D minor, sounding crisp and dry. Both Allegri were taken very fast, and the strings were rather loud in the final one. The Orchestral Suite No. in C major was spirited, but lacked a certain dance-like quality. Labadie did take time to introduce Contrapunctus XIV from the Art of Fugue, and his love of Bach was clear.
* Tattling *
The mezzanine level of Zellerbach Hall was nearly empty. The only disturbance I heard was my own fault, as I dropped my program in the middle of the harpsichord concerto.
