Crescendo's mission...
....is to give to listeners and performers an alive experience of classical music. In part this is achieved by cultivating a repertoire that is not usually heard in this region: musical gems of Early Music as well as 20th century and contemporary works. As its name indicates, Crescendo serves the growth and intensification of the musical experience. Interactive performances, lectures and workshops and a historicaly informed rehearsal style make Crescendo into a unique organization, one in which instruction and inspiration go hand-in-hand. A non profit organization, Crescendo brings fine sacred and secular choral and instrumental music to the Northwest corner communities of Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
About Crescendo
Crescendo's music programs are mainly produced by its own ensembles, The Crescendo Chorus, The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble, The Crescendo Baroque Ensemble and The Crescendo Period Instrument Orchestra. Occasionally Crescendo also presents such renowned national and international musical ensembles and soloists as “I Fagiolini”, L'Orchestre Du Chambre Francaise, Peter Sykes and Paul Badura Skoda.
Crescendo's concert and workshop season occurs mainly in the spring and fall, when there is not an overload of festivals and cultural events in the region.
The Crescendo Chorus brings together in the joy of singing and learning about music about 40-50 auditioned amateurs from all ages and professions. The choir performs classical choral works, both secular and religious, a capella and with orchestra.
While often presenting Early Music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, its repertoire encompasses all musical eras. Among the the highlights we count several works for double choir, like Gabrieli's and Schütz's Magnificats, Vivaldi's “Dixit”, Joh. Ludwig Bach's “Das ist meine Freude” and Cantata "Die mit Traenen saen", and Martin's Mass for Double Choir (1926). Acclaimed by audiences the composer in person was Crescendo's performance of Dave Brubeck's Jazz Mass “To Hope”. The conductor's Latin American heritage and musical connection found its first expression in the performance of “Misa Criolla” by the Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez.
Rehearsals are held weekly from January to June and September to November. Besides that, for each project our dedicated singers attend at least two rehearsal weekends and a series of additional sectional rehearsals. Study CDs with music and language work units support the learning process.
The Crescendo Baroque Ensemble is an
instrumental Chamber music group of professional musicians led by artistic director Christine Gevert on harpsichord and organ. Its main performers: Rodrigo Tarraza on traverso, Tricia Van Oers on recorders, Lisa Rautenberg on violin all pursued international careers in Early Music and have specialized in bringing historical performance practices to the audience in a musically passionate, virtuosic and didactic way. All players perform on period instruments, and also use modern instruments with equal skills. In addition to its concerts, the Ensemble offers workshops for amateurs and professionals with a special emphasis on the performance of early music.
The chorus has professional section leaders in each voice group to guide and support the amateur voices. All choir singers are encouraged to take part in the workshops offered generally on the rehearsal day. Many of them are geared to improve reading skills, understanding of choral repertoire and build up the voice of the choral singer.
The Crescendo Vocal Ensemble is a small group of the most skilled and dedicated singers of Crescendo Chorus - some times professional and semi-professional, dedicated to the performance of motets, madrigales and cantatas. The ensemble has performed Early Music programs like "Three Motets by Johann Sebastian Bach" and "Musica Secreta" with works by Luzzaschi and in 2008 a collaboration in a fusion between Carlo Gesualdo motets and jazz improvisation.
The Crescendo Baroque Orchestra CBO, is our youngest ensemble with its debut in March 2007 in a concert with works of Johann Ludwig Bach and Joseph Haydn. Founded and led by artistic director Christine Gevert at the harpsichord and Lisa Rautenberg, solo violinist and concertmaster, the orchestra is dedicated to historically informed performances on period instruments. The ensemble is comprised mainly of East Coast musicians, some of them with international reputations. CBO plays a significant role in the Crescendo music program as one of its main objectives is to be the instrumental partner to The Crescendo Chorus in the performance of choral/orchestral works. Besides the Baroque "standards" like Bach, Vivaldi and Corelli concertos, CBO's repertoire includes new or unusual works, devoting part of its efforts to research. Included in this repertoire are choral-orchestral pieces like the recently discovered Marien Vesper by Johann Rosenmuller, 17th century South German and Italian concerti by composers like Schmelzer, Bertalli and others like Wassenaer, and also French 18th century pieces by Rameau, rarely heard in concert nowadays. In addition to offering instrumental master classes, and educational concerts to introduce period instruments and Baroque repertoire to a young audience and players, members of the CBO have developed a series of lectures and interactive workshops dedicated to The Arts of the Variation, teaching improvisation for soloists and chamber music players.
Workhops, Lectures and Masterclasses have been part of Crescendo's Music Program since its beginning. These are designed both for amatuers as well as professionals with special emphasis on choral/vocal music and on the performance of Early Music. For adult choral singers Crescendo offers ongoing classes in sight reading, rhythmical training, and an anlysis on different levels. Classes in Voice and Vocal Techniques are also held by Crescendo's section leaders and some of its more distinguished vocal soloists, such as Jack Brown. The art of ensemble singing is subject of workshops led by conductor Christine Gevert and guests, including the English ensemble "I Fagiolini". Lectures take part both as series on a theme - like "The History of Vocal Music" - and also as pre-concert talks on the specific concert repertoire. Instrumental workshops and masterclasses are held on keyboard ("Harpsicord for Pianists"), flute, recorder, oboe, strings and chamber music. As part of its outreach to the community. Crescendo provides scholarship support for participating singers and students for its own workshops and has also given scholarships for the Berkshire Choral Festival.
This page was last updated: January 31, 2010
World Class Music here at Home! Choral and Orchestral Concerts in the "off season" in the Berkshires
