Musical Duels

Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 pm

Virtual

Our season opener spotlights Artistic Director Matthew Dirst along with Sam Houston State professor Mario Aschauer in favorite concertos for two harpsichords by J. S. Bach.

We’ll be inaugurating an extraordinary new instrument as well: a lavishly decorated harpsichord modeled after instruments known to Bach himself. This program of musical duels also features Ars Lyrica core string players in a bit of tuneful fencing plus a sonorous suite, both by masters of the Austrian Baroque.

You won’t want to miss this exceptional musical match, a feast for the eye and ear!

Read the program notes

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Ars Lyrica Houston
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Concert Information

Run time

60 minutes, no intermission

On the program

J. S. Bach, Concerto in C Minor for Two Harpsichords and Strings, BWV 1060

J. H. Schmelzer, Fechtschule (Fencing School)

H. I. F. Biber, Mensa Sonora Pars VI (Suite in G Minor)

J. S. Bach, Concerto in C Major for Two Harpsichords and Strings, BWV 1061

About the Artists

Matthew Dirst, harpsichord

Mario Aschauer, harpsichord

Artist Reviews

“Dirst both leads the ensemble from the harpsichord as conductor and anchors them with his playing. He sets a welcome, no-nonsense pace, yet still allows room for the natural ebbs and flows of the music. […] The well-polished ensemble is not only bringing history to life…they are transporting their audiences to another world.”

- Houston Press