Daniel Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
June 16, 2013
by Barbara Stroup
After a cold winter and a wet spring, Aston Magna returned
to the Berkshires with the best in chamber music - the pleasing combination of
strings, winds and voice. Offering a rare glimpse at an obscure instrument, the
ensemble provided guest artist Eric Hoeprich with respectful support in both
programming and musicianship. In Hoeprich’s hands, the chalemeau is an
instrument that can enter mysteriously from the background texture, rivaling the
voice in its soul-touching sound. The range of this small instrument belies its
size, and the artist achieved a balanced timbre throughout. Paired with the
oboe in a short work by Johann Adolph Hasse, the combination was ethereal. One
wishes again that, like other neglected early instruments, audiences could hear
much more from chalemeau players.
The program opened without the wind instruments with a
Vivaldi work in three parts. Artistic Director Daniel Stepner’s leadership,
particularly at the cadenzas, gave the notes a chance to linger in the air and
gave the audience a change to savor them. It was a pleasure to be able to
follow Vivaldi’s fugal theme, as players took turns getting “out of the way” so
it could be highlighted.
The evening’s ensemble included a continuo section of three:
violone, baroque cello, and theorbo. The group was a perfect combination
throughout the varied program of arias, concerti, and other short works and the
balance throughout was impeccably maintained, regardless of the number of
voices.
Soprano Kristen Watson joined the instrumentalists for
several pieces from Handel and Vivaldi, and for the closing Cantata by
Francesco Conti. Her instrument excellently matched the ensemble. She seemed to
particularly enjoy the opportunities to ‘converse’ with the chalemeau when
Hoeprich and she were paired.
Baroque oboeist Steven Hammer brought a masterful technique
to the familiar Marcello Concerto, ending the first half of the program with
rapid passage-work and flying fingers. All three featured artists had so much
command of technique that they could put the audience at ease with their
musicianship. The program was a delightful mix and it is hoped that a recording
might be issued, because the term “chalemeau” on iTunes results in only ONE find.
