Allegro picks Spain’s brain

David Dutton and Beverly Biggs, who are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Allegro: Baroque and Beyond this season, have an even longer history in Spokane classical music than that milestone would indicate.

Dutton came to town in 1969 as principal oboist of the Spokane Symphony. He and harpsichordist Biggs, his wife at the time, had a deep interest in early music performed on historical instruments, and together they formed Connoisseur Concerts, which they co-directed until 1985.

The pair also began the summertime Royal Fireworks Festival in Riverfront Park, established a series of concerts in Spokane’s historical homes and revived the annual Viennese Ball.

On Friday, Dutton and Biggs begin Allegro’s 20th season at The Met with a concert of Spanish music they call “Spanish Splendor: Music from the Court of Spain and El Escorial.”

Biggs, Dutton and two guest artists, harpsichordist Kraig Scott and cellist Louise Butler, will perform works by composers active in Spain’s musical life such as the Italian Domenico Scarlatti and his Spanish student Antonio Soler, and Scarlatti’s fellow Italian Luigi Boccherini.

Also included in the program are works of the Paris-based J.B. Lully, another Italian who wielded great influence over French music of the time of Louis XIV.

Scott, a professor of music at Walla Walla College who is well known from his performances throughout the Northwest and in Canada, will be making his Spokane debut.

He received a master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Oregon as well as a master’s degree in musicology and a doctorate in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Scott studied at the International Organ Academy in Goteburg, Sweden, last summer before performing a series of recitals in Germany and the Netherlands.

Butler grew up in Rochester and was a member of Eastman’s training orchestra as a child. After a career as a freelance cellist in England, she returned to the U.S. and settled in the Pacific Northwest.

She has been a frequent Allegro contributor in addition to performing with the Spokane Symphony and other regional orchestral and chamber ensembles.

Angeles Aller, a native of Madrid and a member of the modern language faculty at Whitworth College, will present a pre-concert talk on Spanish life and culture from the time of the baroque at 7:15 p.m.