Italian Trio Sonatas
Saturday, October 12
An opportunity for an intimate chamber evening at Fifth Street, a great room for classical music: join violinist Cynthia Keiko Black, cellist Erik Andersen, and harpsichordist Derek Tam for “Italian Stravaganza.” Enjoy passionate sonatas by Alessandro Stradella and his brother-in-crime Carlo Ambrogio Lonati (there’s a story there), as well as virtuoso works by two Italians who made their fortunes elsewhere: Francesco Geminiani in England and Domenico Scarlatti in Spain. These 17th- and 18th-century compositions from the golden age of Italian composition and instrument building showcase the boldness and clarity of expression that made Italy the fountainhead of Baroque music.
Cynthia Keiko Black enjoys a diverse musical life throughout the U. S. and at home in the Bay Area. She performs with Incantare, an ensemble of violins and sackbuts, and will appear with Chatham Baroque, Ars Minerva, American Bach Soloists, Cantata Collective, and Newberry Consort this season. Cynthia holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University.
Derek Tam appears regularly throughout the Bay Area and beyond as a conductor and historical keyboardist. He is the executive director of the San Francisco Early Music Society, an important advocate for early music in the United States and serves as the artistic director of the biennial Berkeley Festival & Exhibition.
Erik Andersen performs on modern and baroque instruments including all sizes of viola da gamba. His background in language teaching and historically informed performance inspires his commitment to expression and meaning in every work, which he relishes sharing with audiences.