Hamilton Hall is fortunate to be the Salem home of the Boston Artists Ensemble. Their 2022-3 season will begin on Friday, Sept. 16— and we hope you’ll treat yourself to their talents!In anticipation of their upcoming season, we chatted with Jonathan Miller, founder and Artistic Director of the BAE. We hope you enjoy the conversation below.
“For those who don’t know, what is the BAE?”Jonathan:
“For the past 42 years, The Boston Artists Ensemble has built a loyal following by providing intimate, deeply moving musical experiences to audiences throughout the Boston area.
I founded the group in 1980 with the idea to invite the area’s most distinguished chamber musicians to our home communities to perform the music they love. These artists share an intense devotion to chamber music, a profound insight into its meaning, and the exquisite technique required to reveal it to the audience. Many are my colleagues from the BSO. Others have had years of experience performing chamber music with famous ensembles and are winners of prestigious international competitions.
We present five concerts each season in both Hamilton Hall and St. Paul’s Church in Brookline. Our programs comprise a mix of great masterpieces, hidden gems, and new classics-to-be.”
How long has the BAE been playing at Hamilton Hall? How did you decide to make this your Salem home?How long has the BAE been playing at Hamilton Hall? How did you decide to make this your Salem home?What makes concerts at Hamilton Hall special?Jonathan:
“It is a real ‘chamber for chamber music’ with world-class acoustics and a beautiful historic space where our audience can experience a night out with friends, enjoy music in the Hall’s beautiful architecture, and have a close-up view and connection to the music.”
How has the neighborhood responded?Jonathan:
“We are delighted to meet so many attendees who love the concerts, with guests joining us from everywhere from Boston to just down the street. We are always looking for audience members to get more involved. We love to provide a space for old friends to reconnect and where music-lovers can meet new ones.”
Why are you excited about this season’s scheduled performances?Jonathan:
“First of all, it is such a joy to play for a live audience. During the 2020-21 season when we had to make videos, we so missed the connection to the audience.
This season we are starting with the world premiere of a new commission for violin and cello that encompasses the idea an opera without words for the two instruments. Each of our concerts has a particular flavor – from the friendship of Mendelssohn and Schuman to the perfection of Mozart and Haydn to the profound world views of Beethoven and Shostakovich and finally an all-Schubert program for a glorious ending to the season.
Also, I am lucky to work with players who have a particular connection to each of the works we are presenting.”
About Hamilton Hall
Built in 1805 on the newly-laid out Chestnut Street, Hamilton Hall is widely recognized as one of the most important Federal buildings in America. It retains its original role as a gathering place for Salem residents, visitors, and special guests.
Learn more at www.hamiltonhall.org
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective is a group of economic development strategists, small business supporters, activation specialists, and believers in the importance of the creative workforce. We foster growth, sustainability, and scalability for small businesses, creative thinkers, organizations, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
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