Sarasa Chamber Music Ensemble

Sarasa Concert Series for 2011-2012

Our season begins in September with a program of Handel works for two sopranos, two violins and continuo. This astonishingly brilliant music for two sopranos is full of "sparkling coloratura, and lavish suspensions."

Likewise, Handel’s sonatas for two violins feature a vocal style similarly full of virtuosity and sonorous beauty. Our two sopranos, Kristen Watson and Kathryn Mueller, based in Boston and North Carolina respectively, are members of the ensemble Les Sirênes, which specializes in the exploration of the soprano voice and the Baroque repertory.

Our two violinists, Beth Wenstrom and Adriane Post, have both recently finished the new graduate program in Historical Performance at The Juilliard School. A recent performance by one of them was described in The New Yorker as "elegant and sensual, stylishly wild."

In November we are honored to have Elizabeth Blumenstock returning to lead a string quartet program. This program, full of the elegant filigree and beautiful melodies of Boccherini juxtaposed with the strong emotional development of Haydn’s music, will make for a truly inspiring concert.

In the spring, Maggie Cole will also return to perform fortepiano trios. This program will include a lovely trio by the little-known English composer Stephen Storace, who Mozart knew and admired.

We look forward to connecting with our audience once again this year, and we hope to see you at as many concerts as possible!

Sarasa et Les Sirènes

Program: Georg Friedrich Händel - Cantatas & Arias for two sopranos and Sonatas for two violins

Kristen Watson, soprano
Kathryn Mueller, soprano
Beth Wenstrom, violin
Adriane Post, violin
Timothy Merton, cello
Charles Sherman, harpsichord

8pm Saturday, September 24, 2011 Friends Meeting House (Cambridge, MA)- accessible via T Red Line (Harvard Sta.) and wheelchair accessible.
7pm Sunday, September 25, 2011 Parish Hall, First Parish Church (Concord, MA) - ample free parking and wheelchair accessible.

Sopranos Kathryn Mueller and Kristen Watson

Download the Concert Series Brochure

The Opus 33's: String Quartets of Boccherini and Haydn

The Sarasa Ensemble’s second program in their concert series is devoted to the Opus 33 string quartets of Haydn and Boccherini. Haydn wrote his Opus 33 string quartets in 1781 while in the royal court of Esterhazy. Coincidentally, during the same year Boccherini wrote his Opus 33 string quartets in the royal court in Madrid. This is a wonderful opportunity to discover the similarities of elegance and grace in these string quartets and, of course, their differences. More...

The Sarasa string quartet group made up of leading period instrument performers will be sure to entertain and inform with two quartets from each composer. Led by Elizabeth Blumenstock, considered to be “among the finest Baroque violinists of our time”, the quartet includes Christina Day Martinson, violin; Jenny Stirling, viola; and Timothy Merton, cello.

The Boston Musical Intelligencer had this to say about the Sarasa Ensemble, “… they bring conviction to their roles as entertainers and festive bringers-to-life of repertoire of all periods. It is not uncommon for members of the audience to considerably rethink how they rank the music they have just heard the group perform in fresh, no-holds-barred ways.”

Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin
Christina Day Martinson, violin
Jenny Stirling, viola
Timothy Merton, cello

8pm Saturday, November 5, 2011 Friends Meeting House (Cambridge, MA)- accessible via T Red Line (Harvard Sta.) and wheelchair accessible.
7pm Sunday, November 6, 2011 Parish Hall, First Parish Church (Concord, MA) - ample free parking and wheelchair accessible.

Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin

Download the Concert Series Brochure

Fortepiano Trios

Program: Trios of Stephen Storace, Haydn, and Beethoven Op. 1 No. 2 in G major

Maggie Cole, fortepiano
Christina Day Martinson, violin
Timothy Merton, cello

8pm Saturday, May 19, 2012 Friends Meeting House (Cambridge, MA)- accessible via T Red Line (Harvard Sta.) and wheelchair accessible.
7pm Sunday, May 20, 2012 Parish Hall, First Parish Church (Concord, MA) - ample free parking and wheelchair accessible.

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Download the Concert Series Brochure

Information on our past seasons: