PORT TOWNSEND — Two internationally renowned German period instrument soloists will return to Port Townsend to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the lifetime of Georg Philipp Telemann, the 18th century’s most prolific composer, in “Celebrating Telemann: 250 Years” on Wednesday.
The performance is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St.
Admission will be by suggested donation — $15 to $25. Children 18 and younger will be admitted free.
Harpsichordist Bernward Lohr and violinist Anne Röhrig will be joined by baroque flutist and artistic director Jeffrey Cohan.
This second of three programs presented by the 2017 Salish Sea Early Music Festival at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Port Townsend celebrates Telemann (1681-1767), easily the most famous musician in Germany during his lifetime, who garnered a salary about three times that of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was four years his junior.
Telemann’s self-confident, effusive and humorous nature and extraordinary productivity won him the universal respect of his contemporaries.
Lohr, director of Hanover’s Musica Alta Ripa, one of Germany’s most active period instrument ensembles, and Röhrig, leader of the Hannoversche Hofkapelle, one of Europe’s premier baroque orchestras, join Cohan for a contrasting and colorful sampling of Telemann’s numerous solos, duos and trios for flute, violin and harpsichord.
Lohr and Röhrig are both professors at music conservatories in Hanover as well as Nuremberg, Germany. Their more than 30 recordings have garnered awards including the Diapason d’Or, the Cannes Classical Award, the German Record Critics’ Award and several times the coveted Echo Klassik Award. Both were awarded the 2002 Music Award of Lower Saxony.
For more information, call the church at 360-385-0770 or go to www.salish seafestival.org/port townsend.
