Music of the Baroque

After all these years I went to my first concert for this well known group in Chicago, their concerts are a little more sparse than many organizations but of very high quality, and they play a concert in two different venues, not sticking just to downtown. Very British in directorship, the musicians are drawn from local top-​notch organizations. As it happens, I think this older music is an acquired taste with age, therefore you will see a VERY old crowd here; it is only in the last 5 years that my mind has opened to the inherent drama, passion inherent in this time period (it isn’t just stale prettyish music as you might think from the surface… it is pure emotion without the excesses of romanticism and some of the starkness of modernism, I have tired of the typical romantic fare and this trumps it. Top notch world-​class soloists and directors. The old lady next to me was so excited, you would have guessed it was a young kid at a rock concert.

I am no classical music or symphony expert, but seeing these folks for the very first time at their Harris Theater home rather blew me away. Under the direction of conductor Nicholas Kraemer, we took in a program of Bach concertos, suites and sinfonias to a packed house on a Monday evening.
The conductor addressed the audience in a humorous and honest way, told us things we might never have known about Bach and the music. And then he presided over performances which were nothing short of perfection. The Harris Theater venue is great both acoustically and for sight lines. Perched way up top, I’ve never seen so many bald heads in one place in my life. Rows of fuzzy cue balls. (The mind does wander during a symphony.)
The Music of The Baroque season includes concerts at the Harris and other venues in Chicago, Skokie, and Evanston. Seven different programs from fall through spring, or October through May. MOB strikes me as just one more Chicago cultural gem, which may warrant a visit sometime, if you like to support our superb local artistes. Or if you just want to feel better about having hair.

Ok, totally shameless plug for one of the top classical groups in Chicago… because I am in it. :)
Music of the Baroque (or MOB) is in its 38^th season, and the chorus and orchestra specialize in the performance of eighteenth century works (mostly Bach, Handel, Purcell, etc). Some of you might read that and think, snooze fest, but I assure you, it is as far from that as you can imagine. Acclaimed music director (and conductor) Jane Glover has quite the international reputation and really knows how to bring drama to the works. The riveting performances of the St. Matthew Passion last spring were nearly sold-​out and received rave reviews.
The Holiday Brass and Choral Concerts begin tonight and are the epitome of the Christmas spirit! If you are looking for a classy and festive event for the holidays, look no further. But hurry and call for tickets, because these shows sell out! I’d highly recommend the Friday evening performance in St. Michael’s in Old Town — you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to Europe without even leaving the city!
If you miss the Holiday concerts, check out the Bach Mass in B Minor in February in the Harris Theater. It will knock your socks off!