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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dancers Join Allegro Musicians For Lively Concert

William Berry Correspondent

Allegro Baroque and Beyond opens its 11th season at The Met with Tuesday and Wednesday performances of “Dance Baroque II.”

Two presentations of a performance is a new format for Allegro. Beverly Biggs, who with David Dutton leads this historic music performance vehicle, says ticket sales are the reason. “Attendance has grown around 18 percent a year for the last five or six years,” she says, “so it seems appropriate to occasionally offer a second night on programs which we think will be popular.”

When Allegro first did “Dance Baroque!” a couple of years ago, Biggs says they “got a great response, receiving phone calls and praise for weeks after the event, so this year’s collaboration with dancers seemed like a good time to give it a try.”

The music comes from London and Versailles, and features works by Handel, Telemann, Rameau and Quantz. Biggs’ harpsichord and Dutton’s oboe will be supplemented by an entourage of musicians, with several of the usual suspects on double reeds and strings.

From George Frideric Handel will be heard the early Sonata No. 2 “Compos’d at the Age of 14” and a suite from “The Alchemist.” Written in 1710 for Ben Johnson’s play, “The Alchemist” was one of the very first works Handel composed for London. It was originally published anonymously, attributed to “an Italian master.”

Jean-Philippe Rameau, the foremost French composer at this time, also composed for the stage. Allegro will perform his “La danse,” which with “La poesie,” “La musique” and a prologue, comprised Rameau’s 1739 opera-ballet “Les fetes d”Hebe”, a tribute to three forms of art. “The Dance” is filled with pastoral inspiration, including shepherd’s dances, et al.

A “Water Music” Suite, written by Georg Philipp Telemann in 1723 for the city of Hamburg, and a trio sonata, by the flute player and maker Johann Hoachim Quantz, will fill out the program.

There will be more dancing at this sequel than on the original “Dance Baroque!” Ten women from Theatre Ballet of Spokane will share the stage with the musicians during “The Alchemist,” “Water Music” and “La danse” to choreography by Theatre Ballet’s artistic director, Margaret Goodner.

A pre-concert talk by Verne Windham, entitled “Dancing In Your Brain,” will begin at 7:15 p.m.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DANCE Allegro will present “Dance Baroque II” at The Met on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 to $17, available at all G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call 325-SEAT. Discounted season tickets are available from Allegro at 455-6865.

This sidebar appeared with the story: DANCE Allegro will present “Dance Baroque II” at The Met on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 to $17, available at all G&B; Select-a-Seat outlets or call 325-SEAT. Discounted season tickets are available from Allegro at 455-6865.