MSU’s West Circle Series Debuts Concert Season with Exploration of Baroque Music

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The College of Music’s beloved Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series kicks off its 15th season with “Baroque Fest” on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 7:30 p.m. in the MSU Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre.

This Baroque-themed concert offers a rich exploration of the era’s vibrant compositions, showcasing a blend of original instrumentation and transcriptions. The concert celebrates the diversity and depth of this renowned musical period, providing listeners with the chance to experience its timeless beauty through piano, harpsichord, and string performances.

The program will open with Violin Sonatas by Arcangelo Corelli and Nicola Canzano, followed by François Couperin’s Concert Royal No. 1, which highlights the melding of French and Italian musical styles characteristic of the Baroque era. The concert will conclude with a selection of works by Johann Sebastian Bach, featuring compositions for both piano and harpsichord.

Photo grouping of portraits include violinist Yvonne Lam, formal red dress attire, smiling and looking at camera; harpsichordist Nicola Canzano, wearing a sport coat, smiling and looking at camera; and pianist Stanislav Khristenko, wearing a dark button down shirt, looking at camera with a subdued expression.

“Baroque Fest” features MSU Artist-faculty Yvonne Lam, violin; Nicola Canzano, harpsichord; and Stanislav Khristenko, piano.

“This concert series allows us to explore the depth and variety of Baroque music as well as Baroque influenced music in an original work by Nicola Canzano,” said Deborah Moriarty, MSU professor of piano and director of the series. “We are also delighted to feature the MSU debut of our newest member of the piano faculty, Stanislav Khristenko.”

Featured artists for this concert include pianist Stanislav Khristenko, harpsichordist Nicola Canzano and violinist Yvonne Lam. Their dynamic performances will bring the Baroque repertoire to life, blending tradition with fresh interpretations and providing insightful commentary on the music through their performance.

Additional upcoming West Circle Series Concerts for the 2024-25 season include:

Vive la France, Monday, December 2nd, 7:30 p.m., Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
Generously sponsored by Dr. Roy and Christine Meland.
Happy Birthday, Mozart! Monday, January 27th, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
Generously sponsored by the Stanley and Selma Hollander Endowment for Chamber Music.
Whirlwinds, Monday, April 7th, 7:30 p.m. Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
Generously sponsored by April Clobes and Glen Brough.

The Baroque Fest concert is generously sponsored by Trustee Emerita Dee Cook in memory of her husband Byron Cook. The entire West Circle Series is underwritten by Joanne and Bill Church.

Reserved seating for this and other concerts in the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (age 60 and older), and $7 for students and those under 18 with valid ID, and can be purchased online (music.msu.edu), by calling (517) 353-5340, or at the door. More information on these and other events in the 2023-24 Season can be found at music.msu.edu/events.

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