March 2021
Thoughts from Artistic Director, Mark Cudek
WE'RE BACK!!! I am thrilled to present the lineup for the 2021 Indianapolis Early Music Festival. In this time of new normal or the next normal, our 2021 season resembles our regular series in that we will have three weekends of concerts occurring on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. But in this new normal, the Friday evening events are virtual and the Sunday afternoon events are both live/in person and virtual (at least for the second performances at 5:00). There will be no family concerts this year.
Stage and opera director, Peter Sellars, recently observed at a recent Peabody "New Normal" Symposium, "This illness is...about grief and loss. The media don't have words for it and politicians won't touch it. It is the job of the artist to deal with and express this! Our task is not to be decorative!...Improvisation is the way to be alive right now! We're all improvising in some way or other at this point."
The biggest take away from this Symposium was the importance of diversity! I am proud to say that we are slightly ahead of the curve in this area. This summer we will present Wade Davis, a very fine African-American baroque cellist and next summer we will present Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, a racially diverse group of eight terrific singers. We are also fortunate to have on our Board Michael Walker, a gifted African-American counter tenor who performed for us in 2018 with Matthias Maute and the Bach Soloists of Minnesota.
For Mark's complete article posted on our website, click here
The May 9 Spring Concert
"Now is the Month Of Maying"
Ron McFarlane, the IEM Festival Band and Alchymy Viols
Sunday, May 9, at 2:30 PM (live) and 5:00 PM (live and virtual)
Spring is the time of renewal, and we renew our festival with some new and some familiar faces in a program featuring music from both court and countryside: the colorful instrumentation of the "Broken consort," the sensuous sound of the viol consort, and music by John Cooper (Giovanni Coprario), John Dowland, Matthew Holmes, and Thomas Morley), as well as some lovely Scottish tunes from the Skene Manuscript.
The 55th Summer Festival: 2021
Weekend 1
Friday, June 25, at 7:30 PM (virtual)
Red Dot Baroque
IEM debut! Red Dot Baroque imaginative staging and exuberant performances from Singapore's young baroque orchestra.
Sunday, June 27, at 2:30 PM (live) and 5:00 PM (live and virtual)
Marginalia
Marginalia includes some familiar faces including Joanna Blendulf, Esteli Gomez, Ronn McFarlane, Phil Spray, and Mark Cudek. The program presents music by women, Jews, and indigenous composers. It includes works by the marginalized composer, Vicente Lusitano, whose mother was of African descent.
Weekend 2
Friday, July 9, at 7:30 PM (virtual)
Handel and the Italians in England
Ingrid Matthews and Byron Schenkman return to our stage.
Sunday, July 11, at 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM (live and virtual)
S'amusant
This program features the aforementioned baroque cellist, Wade Davis. Wade is joined by Patrick Merrill, Silver Medal winner.
Watch Wade Davis' remarkable Swan Lake video "Swans for Relief," featuring 22 dancers from 14 countries, put together by Misty Copeland, principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, to raise money for out-of-work dancers during COVID.
Check out "Swans for Relief" online
Weekend 3
Friday, July 16, at 7:30 PM
Messiah Choruses and More
Matthias Maute with Ensemble Caprice
Sunday, July 18, at 2:30 P.M.(live) and 5:00 PM (live and virtual)
Music for Tudors and Stuarts
Another IEM debut: Grammy winner Aaron Sheehan with legendary lutenist Nigel North will perform music for Tudors and Stuarts featuring songs by John Dowland, Henry Purcell, and others.
Ordering Information:
Live concerts are held at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in the Basile Auditorium. 450 W. Ohio Street in downtown Indianapolis. Free parking!
Tickets are $15
Tickets for the Sunday live concerts can be ordered from the IEM office at 8134 River Bay Drive East, Indianapolis, IN 46240 or over the phone at 317 537-2458.
Mail order form for IEM Festival Tickets
Tickets for the virtual performances on Fridays and Sunday at 5:00 PM are available only through Brown Paper Tickets starting April 10.
Click here to order from Brown Paper Tickets
TRIBUTES
An event such as the Indianapolis Early Music Festival would be impossible without the generous support of many individuals, businesses, and foundations. For your faith in and support of IEM, we sincerely thank you. Our Operating Fund and Endowment Fund continue to grow through your generosity. (Donors from May 1,2019 to March 10, 2021. Current Fiscal year donors are bold.)
Anonymous (several) Arts Council of Indianapolis Jerry Badger Jessica and John Barth Leslie and David Bartolowits Suzanne Blakeman Tatiana Faroud and Eric Boes Gail and Ron Bowler Harriet Ivey and Richard Brashear Elizabeth Brayton Cathy and John Bridge Marsha and Greg Brown David Chandler City of Indianapolis Allen Whitehall Clowes Charitable Foundation Inc. Frank Cooper Ellen and David Crabb Ann and Hank Cradduck Christel DeHaan Family Foundation Alison and Roger Donway Marnie Fechtman
Beth Fineberg Tom Gerber John Glazier John Paul Godich Laura Goetz Indiana Arts Commission Rosemarie and James Jeffery Elizabeth and Rusty Jones Kevin Jones Andrew Kerr Joie Kipka Terry Kirts Marcia Krieg Christine Kyprianides GB Landrigan Joan and Jordan* Leibman Janet Levy David Litsey Kathleen and James Lockwood Alan Manalan Mary Flo and Thomas Mantel Bob Mead Cathy and Tilden Mendelson MHS Indiana Suzanne Mittenthal Nancy and Tim Nagler National Endowment For The Arts Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation Inc. Ohly-Davis Susan Orr Dorit and Gerald* Paul Penrod Society Kara Pierce Dorian and David Poole Susan Porter Susan and Glenn Pratt Stanley Ritchie Janice and Brandon Roger Ada Shaum Rita and Bob Schilling Jane and Fred* Schlegel Alice and Bb Schloss Rose and John Schnell Cole John Seest Sabine* and Peter Sehlinger Patricia and Mark Shaurette Mary Ann and Dan Shields Patricia Slichenmyer Cheryl and Jim Strain Jane and Anthony Tietz Robin and Michael Toulouse Dawn and Oscar Waddell Sara and David Wetzel Harriet Wilkins Judy and Meredith Wilson Mary Anne and Ken Winslow Donna Worth