SAINT JOHN, N.B., Oct 1 2024 – Symphony New Brunswick launches its 24/25 Virtuoso Series this week with "Baroque Masters", featuring early music specialist Tim Blackmore on harpsichord together with members of the Saint John String Quartet. The program includes works by five of the most recognized composers from the Baroque period of music: Corelli. Telemann, Vivaldi, Handel, and J.S. Bach.

About Tim Blackmore

Harpsichordist, pianist and recorder player Tim Blackmore is a graduate of the Montreal Conservatoire, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and the Guildhall School of Music in London.

In 2006 he founded the Early Music Studio of Saint John and from 2014 to 2022 was the Artistic Director of the Saint John Early Music Festival. From 2009 to 2020 he was a member with theorbist Michel Cardin of the La Tour Baroque Duo, whose performances and five CDs received accolades from critics and from audiences in several major centres, including New York, Paris, London, Montreal and Toronto. The Duo were also Musicians-in-Residence at the Fortress of Louisbourg as part of its 300th anniversary year in 2013.

Tim Blackmore regularly collaborates with leading classical musicians and organizations in New Brunswick such as the Saint John String Quartet and Symphony New Brunswick, with whom he has toured as a soloist. His harpsichord is a small Italian-Flemish style instrument built especially for him by Andrew Graham in 2017.

About Symphony New Brunswick

Symphony NB operates the province's only full-scale, full-season professional orchestra. It works in tandem with several affiliated smaller ensembles, including the Saint John String Quartet, the wind quintet Ventus Machina, and Résonance New Music. Through top-notch performances, educational programs, and community partnerships, Symphony NB promotes the awareness and appreciation of symphonic music in an increasingly diverse New Brunswick.

"New Brunswick is so fortunate to have someone of Tim Blackmore's formidable talents as part of the music scene", says Symphony NB Concertmaster Dani Sametz. "Tim is prodigious, prolific, and certainly virtuosic, and we're thrilled to be collaborating with him for this highly entertaining Baroque music program".

"The Virtuoso Series has become an extremely important part of what we offer, showcasing the province's finest professional chamber musicians", remarks Reid Parker, President of Symphony NB. "Baroque Masters is a spectacular launch to the series as Symphony NB embarks on its 41st season. Throughout the year we will revel in performances by Ventus Machina, Resonance, and the Saint John String Quartet, with special appearances by harpsichordist Tim Blackmore, Contrabassist Andrew Reed Miller, Jazz saxophonist and Juno Award winner Joel Miller, and pianist Carl Philippe Gionet. Concertgoers can expect their spirits to be lifted as we soar through the very best from the world of chamber music".

Program
A Corelli – Trio Sonata Op.2 No.4
G P Telemann – Trio Sonata TWV 42:G3
A Vivaldi – Trio Sonata Op.1 No.12/RV63 (La Follia)
G F Handel – Trio Sonata Op.5 No.4.HWV 399
J S Bach – Trio Sonata BWV 1079 (from The Musical Offering)

Schedule
Thu Oct 3 @ 7:30 pm: Fredericton - Recital Room; Margaret McCain Hall, St Thomas U.
Sat Oct 5 @ 7:30 pm: Moncton - Central United Community Church
Sun Oct 6 @ 2:00 pm: Saint John - Saint John Arts Centre