Musicians of the Old Post Road return with more rediscoveries of musical treasures

WORCESTER — Known for its "rediscovery" of musical treasures, Musicians of the Old Post Road will return to the road for the 2022-23 season with more revived works than ever.

The season, titled "Forgotten Voices — A Season of Discovery," will also see the group resume its full in-person concert schedule while continuing to offer the programs online. There will be two live performances of each  of the four programs — one in Boston, and one in Wayland, Sudbury, or Worcester, the group said in its 2022-23 season announcement.

The acclaimed Boston area ensemble has been including Worcester in its travels since its founding in 1989 by wife and husband Suzanne Stumpf (co-artistic director and flutist) and Daniel Ryan (co-artistic director and cellist). Musicians of the Old Post Road specialize in performances of music from the Baroque, Classical and early Romantic eras on period instruments at historic venues.

The pandemic brought some changes in 2020-21 with the ensemble presenting three pre-recorded concerts with live Zoom receptions and a concert live-streamed from the sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester. There was no in-person audience.

Last season included four concerts presented live from four of its regularly visited historical venues, including Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, while simultaneously live streaming.

For 2022-23, the group will come to Worcester for two of the programs — on Dec. 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, and April 29 at the Worcester Historical Museum. It will also be at Salisbury Mansion in Worcester for its "Delving Deeper" series.

The concert series opens with "Masterful Madames: Women Composers in the Circle of Frederick the Great." The program celebrates "three fabulous forgotten female composers: Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia, Wilhelmine of Prussia, and Anna Bon." The concerts are 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at First Parish, Sudbury (and also online Oct. 29), and 4 p.m. Oct. 30 in Emmanuel Church, Boston.

The ensemble’s December program, "American Originals: A Moravian Christmas," explores the music of a unique 18th-century community. The program features works penned by Moravian immigrants to the U.S. and works by Quantz and Haydn that they imported and preserved. Featured soloists include soprano Jessica Petrus and mezzo-soprano Hilary Anne Walker. The concerts are 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in Emmanuel Church, Boston, and 4 p.m. Dec. 11 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester (and also online Dec. 11).

The career of 18th-century superstar Faustina Bordoni is spotlighted in March in "Baroque Diva" with concerts at 4 p.m. March 11 at First Parish, Wayland (and also online March 11), and 4 p.m. March 12 in Old South Church, Boston.

The season concludes with the unveiling of lost works by Christoph Graupner, an unsung German composer who was as legendary in his day as his contemporaries Bach and Telemann. "Into the Light: Unearthed Treasures by Christoph Graupner" will introduce audiences to his concertos, suites, and sonatas along with works by his colleagues Fasch and Telemann. Concerts will be performed at 4 p.m. April 29 in the Worcester Historical Museum and 4 p.m. April 30 in Old South Church, Boston (and also online April 30).

Meanwhile, Musicians of the Old Post continues to go  behind the scenes with the fifth episode of the online "Delving Deeper" series, "Behind the Curtain: Mining, Polishing and Showcasing Lost Musical Gems" on Feb. 4. The episode will culminate with a performance of a rediscovered work by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges at Salisbury Mansion in Worcester.

In-person season subscriptions for all four concert programs are $170 (also includes on-demand online viewing and free admission to the fifth online episode of "Delving Deeper"). Single in-person tickets are $50 ($5 discount available for seniors); new this season, $35 for under 35; and children 18 and younger are free with adult. Day-Of-Concert Rush Tickets (students and EBT Card holders only) are $10, availability permitting. Online single tickets and online subscriptions are also available. Visit www.oldpostroad.org or call (781) 466-6694 for more information and to purchase tickets.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Musicians of the Old Post Road return with more "rediscoveries" of musical treasures