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M a t t h e w

D i r s t

a r t i s t i c

D i r e c t o r

ThePower of Music

www.arslyricahouston.org | 713 622 7443

2014/15 season

2 3Graphic Desgin: Laub Graphic Design • Season photos at the Hobby Center by Amitava Sarkar

Maria Lin violin

Yung-Hsiang Wangviolin

Céline Riccisoprano

Adam LaMotteviolin

H I G HFlyingThePowerofMusic

2014/15 season

Great music inspires many moods, emotions, even actions: from drama to romance, enchantment to celebration. During 2014/15, Ars Lyrica explores this variety of expression in a season we’re calling (with thanks to G. F. Handel) The Power of Music, whose diverse programs show how great music moves us in ways both subtle and profound.

Season highlights include a Handel oratorio—Alexander’s Feast (subtitled “The Power of Music”), two distinct programs of music by the Bach family, and a festive Hispanic-themed New Year’s Eve program and gala. A variety of musical “stories”—of love, tragedy, and the strengths of the human spirit—are sure to inspire and entertain. As always, all programs are performed on period instruments in the warm, intimate acoustics of the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall.

Please take a moment to peruse this brochure for more details on our upcoming season. An order form is included, on which you can select among subscription offers for three, four, or five programs. Our annual New Year’s Eve program and gala has become so popular that we’re offering it exclusively as a special event.

We look forward to sharing The Power of Music with you during the 2014/15 season!

Kinga FergusonExecutive Director

Matthew DirstArtistic Director

Lauren GilmoreMarketing Director

Sunday, September 7, 6 pmThe 2014/15 season opener is dedicated to the spirited and uplifting world of flight —from the natural world of the birds and the bees to the mythological figure Icarus, who soared too close to the sun. French and Italian Baroque chamber works animate this program, featuring French-Italian soprano Céline Ricci and viola da gambist Mary Springfels in G. F. Handel’s evocative Tra le fiamme. Ars Lyrica debuts with this program at the world-renowned Berkeley Early Music Festival on June 3, 2014.

“ Ars Lyrica is one of the finest ensembles of its kind... and greatly enriches the musical life of the City of Houston.” —Robert Cole, Artistic Director, Berkeley Festival & Exhibition

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Matthew Dirstharpsichord

Ellie Jarrett Shattlesmezzo-soprano

Lauren Snouffersoprano

Mark Diamondbaritone

Sarah Meskomezzo-soprano

John Holiday countertenor

CaféBach & Sons: LettersLove

Friday, November 14, 7:30 pm The first of a season-long tribute to the great Bach dynasty, this program includes a rarely performed ode by Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach, his younger brother Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach’s cantata Die Amerikanerin, plus patriarch Johann Sebastian Bach’s beloved “Coffee Cantata.” Featuring soprano Lauren Snouffer, mezzo-soprano Sarah Mesko, and baritone Mark Diamond. This program will also be given at Cornell University on October 3, 2014, as part of an international conference on the music of C. P. E. Bach.

Saturday, February 14, 7:30 pm Italians make everything sound romantic, especially in music! A swoon advisory is thus in effect for this performance featuring duets from Claudio Monteverdi and cantatas by Vivaldi and Scarlatti. Two rising stars of the opera world return to the Zilkha Hall stage for this special Valentine’s Day treat: countertenor John Holiday and mezzo-soprano Ellie Jarrett Shattles. This program is part of the third annual Houston Early Music Festival, which runs from February 13–15, 2015.

“ Ars Lyrica’s focus is not merely on singing and playing, but... on showing that classical music is fun...” —ArtsHouston

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“ The range and quality of Dirst’s creations are as remarkable as the relentless ease with which he brings it all off.” —CounterPunch

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Ingrid Matthews violin

Matthew Dirstharpsichord

Matthew Dirstharpsichord

Becky Baxterharp

The Houston Bach ChoirYulia van Dorensoprano

Maria Lin violin

Yung-Hsiang Wangviolin

AlexAnder’s FeAst— o r, t h e P o w e r o f M u s i c

Saturday, March 28, 7:30 pm Ars Lyrica’s season-long tribute to the Bach family continues with an evening of concertos by Johann Sebastian, Carl Philipp Emanuel, and Johann Christian Bach. Baroque violinist extraordinaire Ingrid Matthews returns for this all-instrumental evening featuring Ars Lyrica’s core string players and harpsichordist/artistic director Matthew Dirst.

“ Ars Lyrica continues to set the agenda for imaginative period-instrument programming in Houston.” —Houston Chronicle

“...Theatrical works have become the calling card of Ars Lyrica... They seem to evoke inspired performances by the group.” —Houston Chronicle

Sunday, May 17, 6 pm Our 2014/15 season finale provides abundant vocal and instrumental fireworks, with Alexander’s Feast—Or, The Power of Music by G.F. Handel, produced in collaboration with the Bach Society Houston. This remarkable musical tale relates how the rapturous song of a musician named Timotheus aroused and moved Alexander the Great. Ars Lyrica is proud to present this rarely heard oratorio, which makes for a formidable evening of music and story—an event you won’t want to miss!

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Ars Lyrica is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

Melissa Givenssoprano

Cecilia Duartemezzo-soprano

February 13–15, 2015Ars Lyrica, Mercury, Bach Society and Houston Early Music collaborate on thethird annual Houston Early Music Festival.

Ars Lyrica invites patrons aged 21–50 to a deeper connection with the lively Houston arts scene. For $105, members of Ars Lyrica’s Young Professionals Society enjoy these benefits:

• 3-Concert Subscription All the benefits of a full-series subscriber • FREE DRINk One free drink before each concert at the Zilkha Hall Lobby • Networking Through performance attendance, volunteer opportunities, and special social events with other organizations, YPS is the best place to grow your professional network. • Access and Special Invitations Exclusive access to dress rehearsals and post-concert receptions with artists, plus discounted tickets to Ars Lyrica’s Dec 31 concert and gala—the premiere NYE event in Houston!

To purchase recordings, including the Grammy-nominated J.A. Hasse’s Marc Antonio e Cleopatra, please visit www.arslyricahouston.org

Amegy Bank of Texas Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable FoundationBrown FoundationCullen Trust for the Performing ArtsDian Graves Owen FoundationGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationHillcrest FoundationHouston Endowment, Inc.Houston Sängerbund Moores School of Music, University of HoustonSt Philip Presbyterian ChurchTexan-French Alliance for the Arts Viebig, McCommon & Associates, P.C.

Wednesday, December 31: 8 pm Dinner, 9 pm Concert, 10:30 pm GalaOn New Year’s Eve, we offer a festive evening of celebration and beautiful music featuring soprano Melissa Givens and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte. Grammy nominee and plucked string expert Richard Savino curates this holiday-inspired pro-gram, which includes Spanish and Latin American Baroque classics that are sure to be magnificos. Our annual fundraising gala surrounds the Zilkha Hall program with cocktails and buffet-style dinner of Spanish fare before the concert plus champagne and dessert gala afterward in the Sarofim Hall Grand Lobby with calls of “¡Feliz Año Nuevo!” at midnight. Choose one of four Fiesta options: full evening, pre-concert dinner and concert, concert and post-concert champagne gala, or concert only.

“ Exquisitely... colorful.” —Houston Chronicle

SUPPORT AND MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY

RECORDINGS

YO U N G P R O F E S S I O NALS S O C I ETY NEW YEAR’S EVE • SPECIAL EVENT

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sUBscriBe or reNew By May 31 for• Guaranteed renewal of your seats• Free ticket for your friend (One ticket per subscription; New Year’s Eve concert not included)• Up to 35% savings on individual tickets

eXcLUsiVe BeNeFits For aLL sUBscriBers• Advance access to best seating• Invitations to post-concert receptions with the artists• Free ticket exchanges (Can’t attend a concert? Exchange your ticket for another subscription concert)• 10% off individual tickets to all subscription series concerts

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ORCHESTRA

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RIGHT LEFT

RIGHT LEFTAll performances are atZilkha HallThe Hobby Centerfor the Performing Arts800 Bagby StreetHouston

Please use the Zilkha Hall seating chartto select your Seating Sections

Section A

Section B

Section C

Single Tickets:A $57 B $46C $36

Mail to: The Hobby Center of the Performing Arts Attn: Box Office Manager 800 Bagby Street, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77002

Call: 713-315-2525 Email: svoight@thehobbycenter.org Visit: www.thehobbycenter.org

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PAYMENT INFORMATION:

Name

Address

City State Zip

E-mail Phone

• Check (preferred) • American Express • Discover • Mastercard • Visa

Card # Exp. Date

Signature CVV #

Make checks payable to: The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Circle your selections: Seating Sections

ORDER FORM TOTAL $

SUBSCRIPTIONS

NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL EVENT (see page 8)

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION Ars Lyrica is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

A B C Qty. Subtotals

5-Concert Subscription* $ 235 195 155Includes: 9/7 • 11/14 • 2/14 • 3/28 • 5/17

4—Concert Subscription* $ 195 160 126Select concert dates: 9/7 • 11/14 • 2/14 • 3/28 • 5/17

3—Concert Subscription* $ 150 126 90 Select concert dates: 9/7 • 11/14 • 2/14 • 3/28 • 5/17

Young Professionals Society (see page 9) $ 105 105Select 3 concert dates: 9/7 • 11/14 • 2/14 • 3/28 • 5/17

Select the date for your complimentary ticket: 9/7 • 11/14 • 2/14 • 3/28 • 5/17(If subscribing or renewing by 5/31/2014)

RENEW MY CURRENT SEATS (guaranteed only by renewing by 5/31/2014) A B C Qty.

Full Evening Package $ 180 170 160Includes: pre-concert dinner, concert, and post-concert gala

Pre-concert Dinner and Concert Package $ 120 110 100Includes: pre-concert dinner and concert

Concert and Post-concert Champagne Gala Package $ 115 105 95 Includes: concert and post-concert gala

Concert only $ 57 46 36

GET INVOLVED Please contact me for volunteer opportunities

iNcLUDe a DoNatioN with your subscription for additional benefits (cumulative) $100+ Name acknowledgement in Ars Lyrica programs for one year 250+ CD recordings of selected concerts 500+ Invitations to donor parties and house concerts 1,000+ Named recognition as an artist underwriter for one concert 2,500+ Named recognition as an underwriter for one concert 5,000+ Valet parking for Ars Lyrica’s performances 10,000+ Private concert at your home by Ars Lyrica’s artistsContinuo Circle: A three-year commitment towards Ars Lyrica’s artistic planningEstate Panning: Have you included Ars Lyrica in your planned giving? Please contact Kinga Ferguson at kferguson@arslyricahouston.org for more information.

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