Season: 2019-2020

Sparks fly as Apollo’s Fire soloists take turns stepping into the virtuoso spotlight. The dazzling soprano Amanda Forsythe joins virtuoso trumpeter Steve Marquardt for Bach’s exhilarating cantata, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen – a Northeast Ohio period-instrument premiere!

Bach’s resplendent masterpiece is rarely performed live, due to the extraordinary forces required: 2 orchestras, 2 choirs, soloists, and children’s choir. Jeannette Sorrell leads a dramatic presentation, with singers performing from memory in the character roles. Bach’s resounding sense of community envelopes the performance as the audience joins in singing the chorales – just as Bach’s congregation did nearly 300 years ago.

Premiered last year to sold-out crowds, Jeannette Sorrell’s evocation of Old Jerusalem blends music and poetry from the Jewish, Christian, Arab, and Armenian quarters of the Old City. Selections from Monteverdi’s great Vespers of 1610 echo with Arabic love songs and rapturous singing of Jewish cantors. The performers, including musicians of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian backgrounds, join in celebration of brotherhood and sisterhood.

Apollo’s Fire celebrates Valentine’s Day with love songs, fire, and flirtation in this Italian music-party with Monteverdi and Vivaldi. Olivier Brault and three other violin soloists play with romance and flirtation in spicy double-concertos of Vivaldi. Monteverdi provides love duets and playful tiffs from the Scherzi Musicali. The program also includes works by Barbara Strozzi …

Hear the Music
No.1 Chorus: “Jauchzet, frohlocket”
English Baroque Soloists | John Eliot Gardiner | Bach’s Christmas Oratorio

Meet the Artists

Hear the Music
Scarborough Fayre (arr. J. Sorrell)
Apollo’s Fire with Sandra Simon, vocals | Jeannette Sorrell | Scarborough Fayre

The Flowers of the Forest (arr. J. Sorrell)
Apollo’s Fire with Kathie Stewart, flute | Jeannette Sorrell | Scarborough Fayre

Wee be Souldiers Three
The New World Renaissance Band | Owain Phyfe

Sheep Under the Snow (arr. S.P. Gilmore, R. Schiffer)
Apollo’s Fire …

Around 1600, the stones of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice echoed as composers placed groups of brass instruments, strings, lutes, and singers in different parts of the church. Apollo’s Fire brass players take the spotlight in the stunning music of Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Praetorius, and Schütz.