FITCHBURG — The Thurston Consort will present a concert titled “Celebrating Spanish Music” at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Rollstone Congregational Church, 199 Main St.
This is the second concert of the Thurston Consort’s 2024 Concert Season presenting a program of music from Spain and the Spanish-speaking Americas.
“The consort will perform 15th century music from the court of Queen Isabella leading into the passion of 16th century Spain with music of composer Josquin de Perz,” said Noel Plouffe, executive director and founder of the Thurston Consort. “The music of 17th century Spain will be explored through Spain’s brilliant composer for the guitar, Gaspar Sanz.”
The program will also feature a 19th century Danza Habanera by Mexican composer Jose Maria Bustamante and from 19th century Puerto Rico, three selections by Juan Morel Campos, the Mozart of Ponce.
“Juan Morel Campos was a recognized genius who, like Mozart, tragically died young but not before he was acknowledged by his island and the rest of Latin America to be the finest Danza composer,” Plouffe said.
The consort will also be performing music by composer Sabastin de Yradier; a Spanish musician whose music was most likely the first Latin American to English speaking American crossover hit that, in the 19th century, was measured in sheet music sales.
“Our guest artist, Berit Strong will join the Thurston Consort,” said Plouffe. “Berit launched her performing career as one of the winners in the 1986 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, bringing this cum laude graduate of the Hartt School of Music as well as a distinguished graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music many performance opportunities in cities across Europe and North America.”
She has been an award-winning international performer of classical guitar for over three decades, with repertoire ranging from renaissance through contemporary music.
Her classical guitar performances have been featured on National Public Radio, World Service Internationals, Swiss Radio, and many other media outlets.
“Locally, Berit has performed several times as a special guest artist at the National Flute Association Conventions and as a soloist in concert with the Indian Hill Symphony, the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra and now the Thurston Consort,” Plouffe added. She also teaches classical guitar at the Groton Hill Music Center.
This concert is the second of the Thurston Consort’s Fifth Concert Season.
Plouffe says that in Augustine S. Belding’s memoir of 19th century Fitchburg “Musical Reminiscences” he writes about the numerous visiting musicians and the city’s many chamber music ensembles of which the Thurston Consort is the city’s latest iteration for twenty-first century Fitchburg.
“The Thurston Consort is named for Fitchburg’s long admired musician, teacher and singing master Cyrus Thurston,” explained Plouffe. “The city of Fitchburg has a long, dynamic musical history – Fitchburg organ and piano makers, gifted Fitchburg composers, and the city’s thriving musical ensembles from the past.”
In Augustine S. Belding’s memoir of 19th century Fitchburg “Musical Reminiscences” he writes about the numerous visiting musicians and the city’s many chamber music ensembles of which the Thurston Consort is the city’s latest iteration for twenty-first century Fitchburg.
This concert is partially funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
For more information on the Thurston Consort, you are welcome to visit their website at thurstonconsort.org or on Facebook.