A riveting Messiah in Cleveland

By Timothy Robson, 13 December 2014

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Reviewed at First Baptist Church, Shaker Heights on 12 December 2014

Handel, Messiah

Jeannette Sorrell, Director

Apollo's Fire

Meredith Hall, Soprano

Amanda Powell, Mezzo-soprano

Ross Hauck, Tenor

Jeffrey Strauss, Baritone

Apollo's Singers

Animated seasonal Vivaldi from Apollo’s Fire

Mark Pullinger, 15th April

Has St Martin-in-the-Fields ever heard a more polished performance of that Baroque evergreen, The Four Seasons?

****1

Coffee House Baroque: Apollo’s Fire

Mark Pullinger, 15th August

Jeanette Sorrell and her Cleveland Baroque band Apollo’s Fire are renowned for their inventive programming and “A Night at Bach’s Coffeehouse”, with guest soloist Alina Ibragimova, deftly offered a balanced musical diet.

***11

New World Baroque: Apollo's Fire in tour send-off

Frank Kuznik, 12th August

A hit in its hometown, Apollo's Fire is making believers on the festival circuit both in the US and abroad this summer.

****1

Baroque Blues: Apollo's Fire in café style

Frank Kuznik, 13th February

Apollo's Fire digs deep into the roots of early music and finds some surprisingly contemporary sounds.

****1

Apollo's Fire sets Cleveland aflame

Frank Kuznik, 23rd February

Who says American early music bands can’t play European music? Apollo’s Fire, the Cleveland-based early music ensemble that will be touring the UK and Austria with Sandrine Piau in May, took local fans on a journey to medieval Spain this past weekend with delightfully authentic songs of the Sephardic Jews.

*****

Jeannette Sorrell and the Hallé find drama in Handel’s Messiah

Leighton Jones, 6th December

Jeanette Sorrell brings a Messiah to Manchester that adds a sense of drama, bridging the gap between oratorio and opera.

****1

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Timothy Robson

We are saddened to learn of the death of Tim Robson, a long-time Bachtrack contributor (2012-21). Tim was an organist in Cleveland, Ohio and his repertoire extended to all musical periods, with a special interest in contemporary music. As a blogger he was a regular contributor to ClevelandClassical.com. In his parallel career as a librarian, Tim was Associate Director for Academic Engagement at the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western Reserve University. Our condolences to his family.

Apollo's Fire brings a riveting new work to Cleveland: Handel's Messiah