Saturday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.

At a Crossroad: Will You Live, Love, or Die?

Join Burning River Baroque for a diverse concert full of epic plot twists and compelling questions about how we interact with others in relationships. This intriguing program of French cantatas and harpsichord solos by Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Julie Pinel, and Nicolas Racot de Grandval urges audience members to choose their own adventure while engaging with the characters.

Can Sémele live to see her lover appear as a God? How do our reactions to the snapshot of her story in Jacquet de la Guerre’s cantata parallel our judgments of issues and people portrayed in the media? In Pinel’s cantata, we examine issues of consent in relationships and see a classic example of a lover pining after a disinterested beloved. In this refreshing story, the pursuer does not conquer his beloved nor force her to turn into a tree to escape; instead, he implores the nightingales to sing her a heartwarming song. This captivating hour of exquisite music will raise questions, challenge beliefs, and provide an excellent side of humor for good measure.

Ensemble Biography

Cleveland-based Burning River Baroque is an innovative artist-run ensemble founded in 2012 with the goal of bringing the drama, passion, and vitality of Baroque music to life for contemporary audiences. Core members are Malina Rauschenfels, a Juilliard-educated multi-instrumentalist and composer, and Paula Maust, a Cleveland Institute of Music graduate who is currently pursuing a doctorate in harpsichord at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.Since its formation in 2012, Burning River Baroque has put on an average of 15-20 concerts each season and recorded and released two live CDs and two live DVDs.