Green Music Center

Philippe Jaroussky & VBO at GMC

Philippe_jaroussky__c_simon_fowler_licensed_to_virgin_classics* Notes * 
Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky (pictured left, photograph by Simon Fowler) is currently on tour with Orchestra Barocca di Venezia (VBO) and performed yesterday at Sonoma State University's Green Music Center. The program is entitled "A Legendary Battle: Farinelli & Porpora vs. Carestini & Händel" and includes instrumental works by both composers interspersed with eight arias written for castrasti. VBO seems to consist of a harpsichordist, eight violinists, two violists, two cellists, a bassist, a bassoonist, a lute player, two oboists, and two horns. The playing was best when the tempi were meant to be brisk and the volume loud. The quieter, slower Minuetto of Porpora's Overture from Il Germanico was slightly lax. The Largo e piano of Händel's Concerto Grosso in A Minor was unfocused compared to the Allegro movements that proceeded and followed it. Händel's Concerto Grosso in G Major has three Allegro movements, and certainly was the most charming of the instrumental selections.

Jaroussky sounded as sublime as ever. His voice has such an open ease to it. He sang Porpora's "Mira in cielo" from Arianna e Teseo and "Si pietoso il tuo labro" from Semiramide riconsciuta with haunting beauty. The two arias from Händel's Alcina, "Mi lusinga il dolce affeto" and "Stà nell'Ircana pietrosa tana" also came off well. The different colorings of the word "cacciator" in the latter alone were impressive. Likewise, after intermission Jaroussky did splendidly with Händel's "Agitato da fiere tempeste" from Oreste and "Scherza infida" from Ariodante. The concert ended with two arias from Porpora's Polifemo and the encore was Geminiano Giacomelli's "Sposa, non mi conosci."

* Tattling * 
The audience members were, for the most part, quiet. No electronic noises were noted. The woman in the third row from the stage, Seat 9, insisted on talking to both her neighbors, one of whom was her daughter. She did stop vocalizing after being hushed twice, but also had the sniffles and may have fallen asleep. She and her daughter did have the good sense to leave after the interval.


Sonoma State University 2012-2013 Season

September 29 2012: Lang Lang, piano
September 30 2012: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
October 13 2012: Karina Gauvin, soprano with Michael McMahon, piano
October 27 2012: "An All American Celebration" with John Adams & the International Contemporary Ensemble featuring Jeffrey Kahane, piano
October 28 2012: Modigliani Quartet with Joyce Yang, piano
November 10 2012: Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano with Craig Terry, piano
November 11 2012: Chucho Valdés and the Afro-Cuban Messengers
November 15 2012: Buika
November 20 2012: Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano with Alan Curtis, conductor & Il Compleso Barocco
December 8 2012: Tallis Scholars | Love is Better Than Wine
December 9 2012: Philharmonia Baroque performs Handel's Messiah
January 26 2013: Yo-Yo Ma, cello, and Kathryn Stott, piano
February 16 2013: Barbara Cook, soprano
November 2 2011: Lang Lang, piano
March 2 2013: Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin with Lambert Orkis, piano
March 21 2013: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
April 7 2013: Vadim Repin, violin with Itamar Golan, piano
April 9 2013: Elīna Garanča, mezzo-soprano
April 18 2013: Lila Downs
April 21 2013: Tara Erraught, mezzo-soprano with Marcelo Amaral, piano
April 27 2013: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, conductor & piano

Robert Cole announced the inaugural season for Weill Hall at Sonoma State University's Green Music Center today. The hall is modeled after Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, and features a rather warm, expansive acoustic. The air conditioning system is impressively high tech and silent.

Official Site | 2012-2013 Season