BDDS's pianist Jeffrey Sykes and flautist Stephanie Jutt.
Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society opened its season on Friday at the Overture Center’s Playhouse with its usual panache and a wonderfully varied program.
One must shrug off the “theme” labels devised by BDDS for each season and each program: “Stolen Moments” was a pretty far-fetched, if not specious, appellation for this program’s contents. It was the diversity of music that mattered, in an interesting blend of vocal and instrumental material.
Former Madisonian Emily Birsan and her fresh, beautiful soprano voice are ever welcome back here; she provided the opening salvo with an aria from Gian Carlo Menotti’s early comic opera, The Old Maid and the Thief. She was joined soon by the fine bass-baritone Timothy Jones. They partnered or alternated in seven of the voluminous arrangements that Beethoven made of Scottish and Irish folksongs, for singers and instruments (here provided by flautist Stephanie Jutt, violinist Katarzyna Bryla, cellist Parry Karp and pianist Jeffrey Sykes). Beethoven made these arrangements purely for ready cash, on commissions from the Edinburgh publisher George Thomson, and even without being told of the songs’ words made very delightful miniatures out of them. Birsan and Jones brought them to life with skill and humor, providing the most purely entertaining dimension of the program.
Birsan and Jones returned in two duets and two arias from Bach’s sacred cantatas -- lovely and devoutly spiritual pieces. Of course, the requisite harpsichord was not available, but local piano whiz Thomas Kasdorf substituted with tact and discretion, while Jutt, Bryla and Karp fulfilled instrumental contributions.
Amid the singing was contrasting chamber music material. Early on came a short, three-movement divertimento, adapted by Haydn from one of his many trios featuring the baryton (here replaced by cello) with flute and violin.
But the meatiest item was the concluding one, the second of Felix Mendelssohn’s two published cello sonatas, that in D, Op. 58. Karp and Sykes delivered the ebullient flanking movements with bracing dash and vitality, but the two middle movements with gentle subtlety. (I wonder if anyone caught the anticipation of a Gilbert-and-Sullivan moment represented in a strain in this sonata’s scherzo.)
So, the BDDS is off to a characteristically smashing start for this year. This weekend's performances include tonight, June 13, at Overture, and a pair of shows Sunday, June 14, in Spring Green. Future weekends (June 19-21, June 26-28) contain two programs each, and add Stoughton Opera House to the venue mix. Information on programs and tickets may be obtained by calling 608-255-9866 or visiting the BDDS website.
