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February begins with Fanfare: Masaaki Suzuki, Vampyr and more

With the Eagles in the Super Bowl next Sunday, it seems most of the area's performing arts ensembles did well to not schedule a competing event on the same day. But, that does leave us with many amazing options vying for your attention on the 7th. You might even be able to grab a seat at PCMS’s sold-out piano duo recital with Simone Dinnerstein and Awadagin Pratt on Wednesday if you join their waitlist.


Spotlight: Bach and Haydn — Friday and Saturday, Marian Anderson Hall

Exactly 1 year ago, renowned conductor Masaaki Suzuki made his debut with our very own Philadelphia Orchestra. They performed some older, but refreshing, repertoire that is not always heard from this orchestra. Luckily for us, the orchestra invited Mr. Suzuki back to lead another program of early-era music by Handel, Bach, and Haydn. He is considered to be one of the leading experts of performance practice of this repertoire. Among other posts, he is the founder and music director of the Bach Collegium Japan, which is in the middle of recording Bach’s complete choral works. The program this weekend starts with a somewhat obscure piece by Handel and ends with Haydn’s delightful 104th symphony, the last that he ever wrote. However, the most profound moments might come from JS Bach’s Cantata No. 51, “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen!,” which features soprano Jone Martínez.

Feb. 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 South Broad Street, $25-$195; tickets and information

The Jasper String Quartet
Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
The Jasper String Quartet

Jasper Quartet — Thursday, Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting

If you’re looking for a chance to hear a world-class string quartet without making the trip into Center City, this one's for you. The Jasper Quartet has proven themselves to be one of the most innovative ensembles over the last couple of decades, after winning numerous awards and competitions since 2008. Part of their offerings includes a yearly concert series at Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting. This Thursday is the third installment of the year and mixes some classic string quartets by Haydn and Beethoven, which are bookends to more modern works. The third piece on the program, Drip Music by Katherine Balch, is sure to intrigue audiences with its exploration of an experimental, yet accessible, sound world.

Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m., Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting, 20 East Mermaid Lane, free, suggested donation $10-$25; more information

What Can I Know? — Friday, Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

If you head to Chestnut Hill on Thursday for the aforementioned Jasper Quartet concert, you might want to stay the next day to enjoy an offering by The Crossing. For those not already familiar, they are a three-time Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble that we are lucky to claim as one of our hometown “bands” here in Philly. They are known for performing a particular style of new choral music that always digs deep; and it does not get much deeper than what they have lined up for this concert, including a world premiere of Sebastian Currier’s Mysterium and a North American premiere of Linda Catlin Smith’s Folio. The text of the piece by Sebastian Currier is taken from a mix of works by physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf and novelist Pia de Jon. It’s said to “remind us of a distant, cherished memory, as the vast distances of the universe, its stars and beings, inspire awe.” The piece by Linda Catlin Smith is a meditation on poetic fragments by Emily Dickinson.

Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Avenue, $22-$43; tickets and information

Vampyr, with live score — Friday, Bomberger Auditorium, Ursinus College

Any film buffs who live into the western suburbs of Philadelphia, or do not mind making the trip, should check out the Ursinus String Ensemble as they join Not So Silent Cinema in a performance of a live score to the 1932 silent film Vampyr. These days, you can see most professional orchestras performing live film scores to movies from Star Wars, Disney, Pixar, etc. In these concerts the orchestra always seems to have a back seat to the film, sometimes on the edge of being unnoticed. This is something completely different: Not So Silent Cinema is a professional group dedicated to performing new and original scores to old silent films. Their leader, composer Brendan Cooney, mixes precisely timed thematic material with moments of controlled improvisation. Even if you are not a horror movie type of person, you will be sure to enjoy this unpredictable ride.

Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m., Bomberger Hall, Ursinus College, 601 East Main Street, Collegeville, free; more information

Courtesy of the artist

Rococo Dialogues — Friday, Fleisher Art Memorial

A relatively young addition to the scene of Philadelphia’s historically informed instrument ensembles, Filament is a trio which aims to connect our modern audience to older repertoire. For this event, they aim to bring us into the vibrant living room of Anne Louise Brillon, a French composer, keyboard player, and socialite who lived in the 18th century. She was friends with hot-shots such as Benjamin Franklin, and inspired many other composers from her day to write chamber music that specifically included keyboard instruments. The repertoire for this concert includes works by Brillon’s friends Luigi Boccherini and Johann Schobert, and is rounded out by a trio by Haydn, and one of her own. All this is fittingly presented at the Fleisher Art Memorial, an intimate venue in Philly’s Queen Village neighborhood.

Feb. 7 at 8:30 p.m., Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine Street, $10-$20; tickets and information.

Dave Tarantino is a substitute classical host at WRTI.