What's New at GEMS...

Fifth Anniversary

GEMS celebrates our fifth anniversary this fall, and we are making some exciting plans that we hope will include you!  Among the celebratory programs is a repeat of Sinfonia New York's program of instrumental ensembles, vocal solos, and dance entitled "The Art and Ecstasy of the Chaconne" which sold out the Society for Ethical Culture auditorium and earned an enthusiastic review from The New York Times.  We're also producing a re-mounting of the medieval "Play of Daniel" at the Cloisters under the direction of Drew Minter and Mary Anne Ballard for 12 performances over two weekends: January 11, 12, 13, and 18, 19, 20, at 1pm and 3pm, in 2013.  Also in the works are special lectures, dinner parties, and a gala version of our annual GEMS Project showcase concerts.  Look for the "GEMS 5th" logo in this newsletter and our website over the coming months for "save the date" announcements, full details, a complete anniversary celebration calendar, and special offers for tickets and free events.

Longtime early music fans in New York remember the extraordinary work of Gabe Wiener, a young Columbia College graduate whose many contributions to our community, before his untimely death at age 27 in 1997, included superb audio engineering and creation of the PGM Recording label. For his series of PGM CDs Gabe strived for uncompromising excellence in artistry and technology.  In connection with last Sunday's Salon/Sanctuary Concert "Mary/Magdalene," we obtained from the Gabe Wiener Foundation a limited number of copies of the original PGM CD recording of the gorgeous "Canto Divotti Affetti" by Giovanni Alberto Ristori (1692 - 1753).  It was a sensation when performed by Jessica Gould and Meg Bragle last Sunday, and we're sure you'll enjoy the recording with Tamara Matthew and Jennifer Lane, available online from our CD store.

We're always interested in innovative ideas that will broaden and diversify the audiences for early music.  This edition's listings include three:

The venerable Music Before 1800 series is venturing south from its home in Morningside Heights for an unusual series of three weekly concerts in March in Hell's Kitchen, at the fabulous new DiMenna Center for Classical Music.

For the first time, Carnegie Hall's acclaimed "Perspectives" series will feature early music groups. Performing in Zankel Hall and paving the way for many more ensembles in future (including, we sincerely hope, a number of domestic groups) will be L'Arpeggiata and Les Violons du Roy.

The Sinfonia Players are teaming up with noted architect John Kinnear to present "A Musical Feast in Georgian Palaces" on March 21 surveying the cultural achievements in music and architecture of the Georgian period in England.  The slideshow/commentary/concert/party is being sponsored by GEMS, the American Friends of the Georgian Group, the St. George's Society of New York, and the Colonial Dames of America (who are providing their beautiful Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium for the evening).

Other Upcoming Events... (click on the date for more info)

Saturday, March 3 at 7 pm - TENET, St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church, NYC
Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm - The Dessoff Choirs, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, NYC
Saturday, March 3 at 8 pm - Repast with special guests, American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Thursday, March 8 at 8 pm - Choir of St. Luke in the Fields, Church of St. Luke in the Fields, NYC
Saturday, March 10 at 8 pm - Parthenia with Ellen Hargis, soprano, Picture Ray Studio, NYC