A HAYDN AFFAIR
FEATURING HEILIGMESSE & “SURPRISE SYMPHONY”
Sunday, March 1 at 4 p.m.
UPDATED LOCATION: Towson United Methodist Church
501 Hampton Lane, Towson
This concert was part of Bach in Baltimore’s 2018-2019 Season. View the full season in our Archives.
FULL PROGRAM:
Heiligmesse, Missa Sancti Bernardi von Offida
“Surprise Symphony,” Symphony No. 94 in G major
FEATURED SOLOISTS:
Stephanie Kruskol, Soprano
Taylor Boykins, Alto
Joseph Regan, Tenor
David Dimmock, Bass*
STUDENT VOICE EXCHANGE:
Richard Montgomery High School Madrigals
* The bass soloist for this concert is endowed in perpetuity in memory of Dr. John Upton Bascom
Learn more about our Permanent Endowment Fund HERE
Bach in Baltimore is thrilled to perform A Haydn Affair concert in honor of the ‘father of the symphony.’ We open with his glorious Heiligmesse, Missa Sancti Bernardi von Offida in B-flat major, a sumptuous mass featuring the full Bach in Baltimore Choir; soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists; and gorgeous instrumentation with oboes, clarinets, bassoons, trumpets, timpani, and organ. The afternoon concludes with Symphony No. 94 in G major, often called the “Surprise Symphony” for its unexpected “surprise” chord that bursts forth in the 2nd movement. Haydn’s beloved composition is full of fun jokes, including a musical flirtation between the flute and bassoon or a “wrong” chord popping up here and there. You won’t want to miss our dynamic homage to Haydn!
Tickets: $40 Regular / $42 Door
Taylor Hillary Boykins, mezzo-soprano
“Pocket-sized mezzo” Taylor Hillary Boykins can be found sharing her talents all over the greater Baltimore/Washington area. During the 2018-2019 season, she was in recital with Thrive Music Live, followed by an appearance with St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church as alto soloist for their performance of Duruflé’s Requiem. She began 2019 with a bang— in collaboration with local chamber favorites Bedlam Brass, Mind on Fire, and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for the Dan Deacon Pulse show at the Meyerhoff. In late spring, she was featured for a second time with the Maryland Choral Society, she was a national finalist in The American Prize Competition for the Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award in Voice: Women in Opera, and she’ll be serving as an ambassador for Maryland Opera’s Opera-To-Go program for a third season. 2017-2018 season took Taylor to the West Coast, debuting as alto soloist with the Gonzaga University University Concert Choir, performing Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time in Spokane, WA. She was later deemed a finalist for the 2018 Chicago Oratorio Award. In 2016-2017, Taylor was commissioned to perform An Evening of Opera; a lecture recital held at the University of Toledo in March of 2017. In fall of 2016, she made her debut as alto soloist in Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, with one of Baltimore’s innovative chamber orchestras, Symphony Number One. This season, Taylor will be performing with Annapolis Opera, Mind On Fire, The Mainstay Rock Hall, The George Peabody Library’s: In The Stacks concert series, et al. She earned her Master of Music degree in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where she was a protégé of Denyce Graves. A native of Michigan, she received her Bachelor of Music degree from Oakland University in Rochester, MI as a student of contralto, Nadine Washington.
Joseph Regan, tenor
Joseph Regan is thrilled to be returning to the Bach in Baltimore Concert Series this season. Mr. Regan is a highly sought after performer whose singing has taken him all over the Eastern Seaboard and parts of Europe. Recent highlights from the opera stage include a turn as Azaël from Debussy’s L’Enfant Prodigue for Lyric Opera of Baltimore, Don José in Opus Concert Theater’s production of Carmen, and Pinkerton from Madame Butterfly with Loudon Lyric Opera. Mr. Regan is frequently engaged as a tenor soloist. He is particularly well known for his singing of Bach and Handel with numerous performances of Handel’s Messiah as well as Bach’s Passions and Cantatas to his credit. Recent highlights include the regional premiere of the concert oratorio Barbara Allen with Shepherd University Masterworks and Gerald Finzi’s A Farewell to Arms with Live Arts Maryland. In addition to multiple turns as the tenor soloist for Bach’s St. John Passion, Mr. Regan recently made his debut as the Evangelist. Mr. Regan also deeply enjoys singing art song, in particular French Mélodies. This intimate and personal form allows him to more deeply explore the connection between text, music, emotional intent, and its impact on the listener.
He earned his BM and MM from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and his DMA from University of Maryland, College Park.
Stephanie Kruskol, soprano
David Dimmock, Bass-Baritone
Bass-Baritone David Dimmock is a graduate of Oberlin College. He has performed extensively the works of J. S. Bach, including the St. John and St. Matthew Passions, Magnificat, Easter Oratorio, Christmas Oratorio and over 30 of Bach’s cantatas. Local solo concert appearances have included the Handel Choir of Baltimore, the Harford Choral Society, and the Bach Concert Series. Additionally, he has appeared as soloist in San Francisco, New York, and Washington D.C. He is featured as soloist on three CD’s of the Handel Choir of Baltimore, and has performed in over 75 operas with the Baltimore Opera Company, Baltimore Concert Opera and Washington Concert Opera. Now retired from a career as project manager at Northrop Grumman, David enjoys playing saxophone, flute and clarinet in local jazz big bands and in community theater pit orchestras.
Richard Montgomery High School Madrigals
Drawing from a student body of more than 2,500 students, the Richard Montgomery choral program has three ensembles: Madrigals, Concert Choir, and Treble Chorale. These ensembles perform at numerous concerts, competitions, and community events, regularly receiving accolades and superior competition scores.
The Richard Montgomery choral program is under the direction of Ms. Carrie Eyler.