Early Music New York to Embark on The Grand Tour

In centuries past, people of means would devote a year or more to THE GRAND TOUR, traveling throughout Europe to broaden their appreciation of art, culture and western civilization. In the 2018-2019 season, Frederick Renz will guide EARLY MUSIC NEW YORK (EM/NY) in its own version of THE GRAND TOUR. Three programs will take place at First Church of Christ, Scientist, while all performances of its annual Christmas program will be at Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, where EM/NY is Artist-in-Residence.

"Most 'grand tourists' began their journeys by sailing from England, with France their first destination," states Dr. Renz. "There were many possible intermediate stops, but they usually wound up in Italy. Similarly, our season will begin in France and end in Italy. Because our focus is music, Germany also has to be on the itinerary. And though rather off the beaten path, a return to England for the holidays, with a side-trip across the Atlantic, will make our Grand Tour even more of an adventure for our audiences."

Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2018-2019 Early Music New York

"Grand Tour" season are on sale now, and can be ordered:

on the secure Early Music Foundation website: EarlyMusicNY.org

by telephone: 212-280-0330

by mail: Early Music Foundation | 10 West 68th Street | New York, NY 10023

2018-2019 Season Details

FALL 2018

FRANCE

Lully to Rameau

Saturday, November 3rd at 7:30 pm

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Central Park West at 68th Street

Lully and Rameau are the twin peaks of the French baroque, masters of opera and the dance. Their instrumental suites abound with airs, allemandes, gavottes, gigues, menuets, sarabandes and other baroque dance sensations. Works by colleagues including Rebel (his programmatic Les Elemens) round out this French experience.

ENGLAND & THE COLONIES

Colonial Christmas

Saturday, December 15th at 7:30 pm

Sunday, December 16th at 2:00 pm

Sunday, December 23rd at 2:00 pm

Tuesday, December 25th at 2:00 pm

Tuesday, December 25th at 5:00 pm

Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, Amsterdam Avenue

at 112th Street, in Saint James Chapel

EM/NY's annual holiday appearances at the festooned Cathedral of St. John the Divine are perennial sold-out events. COLONIAL CHRISTMAS offers stirring 18th-century New England shape-note anthems and hymns heartily sung by men's vocal ensemble, generously spiked with English country dance tunes played by a lively band of fiddle, flute and bass.

SPRING 2019

GERMANY

Bach Progeny

Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30 pm

First Church of Christ, Scientist

Central Park West at 68th Street

With a great composer for a father, best to learn everything he knows, then go one's own way. Johann Sebastian Bach's four composer sons distinguished themselves in an evolving musical landscape. Works by Bach progeny Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel, Johann Christoph Friedrich and Johann Christian show just how far apples can fall from the tree.

ITALY

Corelli to Vivaldi

Saturday, May 4th at 7:30 pm

First Church of Christ, Scientist

Central Park West at 68th Street

EM/NY concludes its Grand Tour with spring in sunny Italy, where the light that pervades its visual art suffuses its music as well. Corelli and Vivaldi concertos, sinfonias and overtures will frame a program enriched by contributions from compatriot composers. Among these will be Domenico Scarlatti, his keyboard sonatas recast as concerti grossi by the British composer Charles Avison...bringing the Grand Tour back to home base.

[programs subject to change]