Bourbon Baroque
Early music ensemble
Bourbon Baroque logo as it appeared on the official website in 2020.
Founded2007 (2007)
LocationLouisville, Kentucky; United States
Websitewww.bourbonbaroque.com

Bourbon Baroque is a period instrument ensemble from Louisville, Kentucky. It specialises in historical informed performance of the music of the 17th and 18th centuries.

History

Bourbon Baroque was founded by harpsichordist John Austin Clark and baroque violinist Nicolas Fortin in the summer of 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] Since 2017, the ensemble is led by Clark and violinist Alice Culin-Ellison.[2]

Overview

Soprano Megan Maria Hart is standing in front of the Bourbon Baroque period instrument orchestra. Violinist Nicolas Fortin has raised his bow, harpsichordist John Austin Clark's hands are hovering above the keys.
Bourbon Baroque performing with soprano Megan Marie Hart in 2008.

The ensemble varies in size based on the program and produces performances ranging from chamber music concerts to full opera productions.[3][4] The 2010 production of George Frideric Handel's opera Alcina has been recorded for TV and aired first on 12 April 2011.[5][6] Bourbon Baroque has been performing Handel's Messiah in the holiday season every year since 2013.[7][8]

Bourbon Baroque performs regularly throughout the year in a variety of venues, often collaborating with performing arts organizations such as Squallis Puppeteers (Louisville, KY) and Empire City Men's Chorus (New York, New York).[9][10][11][12][13]

Bourbon Baroque is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.[14]

Name origin

Bourbon Baroque is named after the French royal dynasty House of Bourbon to reflect the ensembles inspiration by the art culture at royal European courts.[15] Louis XIV of France, after whom Louisville was named, was from this dynasty.[16]

Scholarship

In the fall of 2016 Bourbon Baroque established the annual Nicolas Fortin Scholarship in honour of co-founder and co-artistic director Nicolas Fortin (1980–2016)[17] after his passing. This scholarship is open to all musicians specializing in baroque music without further restrictions.[18]

Scholarship recipients
Year Recipient Instrument
2017 Wei-Shuan Yu Viola da gamba
2018 Paulina Francisco Soprano
2019 Seth Van Embden Viola
2020 Eleanor Legault Violin
2021 Liz Loayza Violin
Michael Delfín Harpsichord
2022 Stephanie Rempel Baroque flute

See also

References

  1. ^ Kramer, Elizabeth (16 November 2016). "Bourbon Baroque continues its tradition". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. ^ Tripplett, Jo Anne (30 January 2019). "John Austin Clark, classical and timeless". LEO Weekly. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ "ALCINA (GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL)". Opera Musica. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Bourbon Baroque | About Us". bourbonbaroque. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Bourbon Baroque: Alcina | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Bourbon Baroque: Alcina". KET. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Bourbon Baroque To Perform Handel s "Messiah" | Louisville Music.org". louisvillemusic.org. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  8. ^ Keel, Eli (21 November 2018). "Bourbon Baroque will play Handel's 'Messiah' as Handel intended – Insider Louisville". Insider Louisville. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  9. ^ The Arts Louisville | 12 February 2011 | Reporter Keith Waits
  10. ^ The Courier-Journal | 7 May 2010 | Reporter Andrew Adler
  11. ^ The Courier-Journal | 2 March 2008 | Reporter Susan Reigler | Special to The Courier-Journal.
  12. ^ "Baroque soiree includes dancer". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. 19 September 2008. p. 19.
  13. ^ The Courier-Journal | 4 November 2007 | Reporter Marty Rosen | Special to The Courier-Journal.
  14. ^ "Tax exempt organization search". apps.irs.gov. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Gotham Early Music Scene, Inc". gemsny.org. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  16. ^ a b Ball, Rebecca (6 May 2014). "The French Connection in Louisville". louisville.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Nicolas Fortin – Avis de décès – Nécrologie, Montréal, Laval et la Rive-Sud – Rechercher – Urgel Bourgie / Athos". urgelbourgie.com (in French). Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Bourbon Baroque | Scholarship". bourbonbaroque.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.

External links

Authority control databases: Artists
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