Arcadia Players Explained

The Arcadia Players is an American chamber orchestra using historically informed performance to explore repertoire from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras. Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, the ensemble performs throughout New England.

Background

Founded in 1989 by Margaret Irwin-Brandon,^[1] the Arcadia Players holds a residency at the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies at UMass Amherst.^{[2] [3]} The ensemble's website states they "embrace historical performance practice to illuminate and invigorate the great Western heritage of vocal and instrumental music."^[4]

In 2006, the Arcadia Players released an album with Jaap Schröder, titled Trio Sonatas.^[5] The ensemble partnered with The Shakespeare Concerts for several years, releasing three projects through Navona Records.^{[6] [7] [8]}

The Arcadia Players has collaborated with several institutions throughout New England, including the Connecticut Early Music Festival,^[9] Dartmouth College, the Hartt School, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Yale University. Longtime artistic director, Ian Watson, stepped down in 2019.^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]}

To open the ensemble's 30th Anniversary Season, Margaret Irwin-Brandon (Director Emerita) performed a program at Mount Holyoke College's Abbey Chapel. Woodrow Bynum led another program with the Choir of Men and Boys from Cathedral of All Saints (Albany, New York). The COVID-19 pandemic has limited operations, including the ensemble's search for a new artistic director.^[21]

Discography

• 2006: Trio Sonatas
• 2014: Joseph Summer: Goddesses (Shakespeare Concerts Series, Vol. 3)
• 2015: Joseph Summer: Full Fathom Five - Music on Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' (Shakespeare Concert Series, Vol. 5)
• 2018: Joseph Summer: No Enemy but Winter and Rough Weather (Shakespeare Concerts Series, Vol. 6)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Who We Are . www.arcadiaplayers.org.
2. Web site: Arcadia Players – Special Collections and University Archives.
3. News: Waugh . Alice . New music director brings broad experience to Lincoln church . www.wickedlocal.com . 2012.
4. Web site: Arcadia Players. Arcadia Players.
5. Web site: Amazon.com. www.amazon.com.
6. Web site: HBDirect. HBDirect.
7. Web site: HISTORY.
8. Web site: Navona Records. www.navonarecords.com.
9. News: Koster . Rick . Early Music Fest's Ian Watson in conversation . The Day . The Day Publishing Company . 2016.
10. News: Tamer . Joyce . Arcadia Players give superb rendition of Bach's 'Mass' . Telegram & Gazette . 2010.
11. News: Kraft . Stephanie . Street-Smart Handel . Valley Advocate . 2011.
12. Web site: Nuanced Beethoven take lets Arcadia Players shine. telegram.com.
13. News: Staff . The Daily Hampshire Gazette . Arcadia Players concert a pleasure of sight, sound . The Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2012.
14. Web site: Noble . Clifton Jr. . Arcadia Players kicked off 24th season with works of Mozart, Haydn . MassLive.com. 7 October 2012 .
15. News: Morford . Mark . Music review: Arcadia Players perform Beethoven . Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2014.
16. News: Morford . Mark . A divine collaboration: Arcadia Players, Illuminati Chorus perform Mozart's 'Requiem' . Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2016.
17. News: Morford . Mark . Music review: Contrasting performances introduce autumn's music . Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2016.
18. News: Powers . Keith . In A Rare Staging, Poets' Theatre Revives 17th Century Semi-Opera 'King Arthur' . WBUR . 2016.
19. News: Pfarrer . Steve . Arcadia Players open new season . Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2018.
20. News: Goudreau . Chris . A blast from the past: Arcadia Players celebrate their 30th anniversary of performing on period instruments . Amherst Bulletin . Daily Hampshire Gazette . 2019.
21. Web site: CONCERT SEASON. Arcadia Players.