Harry Bicket to Conduct Mercury on Valentine's Day Weekend

A Valentine's experience like no other, Mercury performs all of Bach's gleaming Orchestral Suites with internationally acclaimed guest conductor Harry Bicket on February 13, 2016 at 8 PM at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. Written over many years, the four Orchestral Suites (BWV 1066-1069), are filled with some of Bach's most recognizable and beloved melodies. This performance is a part of the 2016 Houston Early Music Festival (HEMF), generously funded in part by a grant from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance and the Texas Commission on the Arts. To purchase tickets or HEMF festival passes, or for more information visit www.mercuryhouston.org or call 713.533.0080.

Internationally renowned as an opera and concert conductor of distinction, Harry Bicket is especially noted for his interpretation of baroque and classical repertoire, and became Artistic Director of The English Concert in 2007, one of the UK's finest period orchestras. He became Chief Conductor of Santa Fe Opera in 2013 and opened the 2014 season with a critically-acclaimed Fidelio. Born in Liverpool, he studied at the Royal College of Music and Oxford University and is an accomplished harpsichordist. Highlights of recent seasons include acclaimed productions for Santa Fe Opera (Fidelio, Finta) Metropolitan Opera (Rodelinda, Clemenza, Cesare), Canadian Opera (Hercules) Liceu Barcelona (Agrippina, Lucio Silla), Chicago Lyric (Rinaldo) and Bordeaux Opera (Alcina). He has also toured extensively with The English Concert including the recent critically-acclaimed concert versions of Handel's Theodora, Alcina and Hercules at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Theatre des Champs Elysées and Barbican Centre, London. They have also appeared at the BBC Proms (B Minor Mass, "Being Both" with Alice Coote), Spitalfields Festival and Edinburgh International Festival.

ABOUT MERCURY

Founded in 2000, Mercury has a mission to serve the community by celebrating the power of music, Baroque and beyond, teaching, sharing and performing with passion, intimacy and excellence. The orchestra offers performances of a broad repertoire of music on period instruments and has garnered critical acclaim around the world through innovative and accessible performances, domestic and international tours, and groundbreaking music education programs.

What makes a Mercury performance unique?

Mercury musicians perform on period instruments similar in style and sound to those used by composers of the Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic periods. Differences between modern and period instruments can be seen in the string section where players use gut rather than steel strings and often utilize a Baroque bow that is shorter and more curved than a modern bow. Brass instruments have no valves and are more modest in shape than their modern equivalents, and the timpani drums utilize leather skins rather than synthetic heads. Perhaps the most recognizable differences can be seen in the woodwind section; these instruments have less keys and are actually crafted from wood as opposed to metal or plastic like many modern instruments. Mercury chooses to perform with period instruments to create a distinctive and exciting sound, true to the composer's intent. Mercury musicians also perform standing to better express the passion and vitality of the music. All of this provides a singular listening experience for our audience.

ABOUT HOUSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Seeking to capitalize on the local growth of early music programming and period-instrument expertise, HEMF was founded in 2011 as an international platform for showcasing Houston's growing talent pool and flourishing early music organizations. HEMF 2016, taking place at venues across the city from February 6-14, is sponsored by partner organizations Ars Lyrica Houston, Bach Society Houston, Houston Early Music, Mercury, and Piping Rock Singers. Festival performances include J.S. Bach's complete Orchestral Suites under the baton of acclaimed early music conductor Harry Bicket, a night of Italian Renaissance love songs performed by the celebrated Swiss early-music ensemble Lucidarium, and much more! Outreach events include the Young Artist Showcase, now in its second year, which highlights period-instrument student musicians from Texas university and college music programs. The combined efforts of these distinctive and innovative early music organizations provide an excellent educational platform and multiple opportunities to bring greater awareness to Houston's extraordinarily diverse and robust arts scene.

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