This afternoon was the whole reason I came to Cleveland—and that was to hear the baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire in person. It was absolutely glorious!
Right away, Joan Ishibashi introduced me to Noha Ryder, General Manager and Director of Development of Apollo’s Fire. Little did I know that Joan had sent her the link to my blog post, “My London agent (LOL!)” in which I wrote about our 12-hour car ride to and from Cornwall and listened to Apollo’s Fire CDs the whole way. That was what inspired my trip to Cleveland in the first place.
Joan had asked Noha’s assistance in getting tickets “for good seats” to their concert, Echoes of Venice, before individual tickets became available. We had the most fabulous seats, in the front row and center!
To my complete surprise, Noha made an announcement at the concert that there was a very special guest in the audience who had come to Cleveland especially for this season’s opening concert. Then she said “Katherine Crosier!” Boy, was I shocked to hear my name announced!
The program was titled “Echoes of Venice: Music from Early Baroque Italy and Germany, inspired by the Basilica of San Marco,” and was presented in four locations around Cleveland. We attended the one at Avon Lake UCC Church. The program was all antiphonal (echo) music by Claudio Monteverdi, Giovanni Gabrieli, Johann Rosenmüller, Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz. I was especially happy to hear a number of selections from Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610. I also recognized “In ecclesiis” by Gabrieli.
All of the music was performed stunningly, and in a most engaging fashion. No wonder Apollo’s Fire is in its 28th season and can present four sold-out performances for each of its seven-concert series.
Here are some recent press quotes—every single one of them right on the mark!
“First rate… rendered with consummate skill and artistry…”
–NEW YORK TIMES
“Electrified and sparkling.
If this concert didn’t shake your rafters, then nothing will.”
–SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE
“Revelatory and convivially theatrical… first class”
–BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
“This was as exciting as Baroque music gets….
a barnstorming conclusion to an arresting musical evening.”
–CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
“Dramatic tautness tempered by musical finesse and elegant refinement.”
–GRAMOPHONE
When I opened the program, I was really excited to recognize some names of people who had come to Hawaii to perform early music.
We then went out to a delightful and delicious dinner with Noha Ryder, Bob Bensen (one of Apollo’s Fire’s supporters) and I picked Noha’s brain about fundraising for an arts organization. She has a wealth of information!
