Inspiración presents a dynamic journey through diverse musical landscapes, from the vibrant streets of Madrid to the rhythmic pulse of Panama. The program opens with Boccherini’s evocative Night Music on the Streets of Madrid, followed by Chiquinha Gonzaga's lively Brazilian Corta Jaca. William Grant Still’s *Panamanian Dances* brings folk-inspired melodies to the forefront, while Pedro Ximenez Abril Tirado’s Concertante Quartetto offers a modern, hybrid exploration of European harmonies mixed with natural harmonies to Peru and Bolivia. The second half features Manuel Ponce’s lyrical but fiery Duo for Violin and Viola, concluding with Boccherini’s spirited Fandango, celebrating the passion of Spanish folk dance.

Join us for this FREE concert at the sublime United Palace Theater! Reserve your seat while you can!

Grace’s St. Paul Episcopal Church in TUCSON, ARIZONA

Handel’s “Aminta e Fillide,” featuring soprano Nola Richardson and mezzo-soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas

Twelfth Night, the refreshingly new ensemble of young stars directed by violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and keyboardist David Belkovski, offers a scintillating program featuring Handel’s Aminta e Fillide, a pastoral cantata. Aminta and Fillide, the cantata’s shepherd and nymph, pursue each other through a mythological Greek landscape in arias both virtuosic and poignant. To round out a captivating program, the group performs Vivaldi’s electric sinfonia from his opera, Il Giustino.

“Thomas’s uncommonly dark, creamy mezzo was able to give her opulent voice free rein… projecting a thought behind each ornament…”—Opera News

“Nola Richardson was totally delightful, displaying nimble coloratura and a light voice of penetrating beauty.”—South Florida Classical Review

Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya in SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

TWELFTH NIGHT ENSEMBLE†

Handel’s Aminta e Fillide
Nola Richardson, soprano and Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo-soprano
7:30pm / Mar 21

Twelfth Night, the refreshingly new ensemble of young stars directed by violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and keyboardist David Belkovski, offers a scintillating program featuring Handel’s Aminta e Fillide, a pastoral cantata. Aminta and Fillide, the cantata’s shepherd and nymph, pursue each other through a mythological Greek landscape in arias both virtuosic and poignant. To round out a captivating program, the group performs Vivaldi’s electric sinfonia from his opera, Il Giustino.

† Twelfth Night Ensemble is the EMS 24-25 Ensemble-in-Residence

Twelfth Night debuts at the Strathmore Mansion, performing at a sumptuous Baroque program on the theme of LONGING, featuring internationally-acclaimed mezzo, Xenia Puskarz Thomas.

David Belkovski, harpsichord and director

Xenia Puskarz Thomas, mezzo

Carmen Lavada Johnson-Pájaro, violin

Adam Cockerham, theorbo

Paul Holmes morton, theorbo

Aquila Theatre in HUNTER, NEW YORK

Fortepianist Yi-heng Yang, Twelfth Night Ensemble, and Aquila Theatre are collaborating on a special performance for this Thanksgiving Weekend at the Doctorow Center for the Arts featuring the double concerti of Mozart with spoken word dramatizations of the life of Mozart performed by actors from the renowned Aquila Theatre.

Based in NYC, Twelfth Night is an ensemble of historical performance specialists led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, formed with the firm belief that art is best explored as a meeting place of the past, present, and future.

Pianist and fortepianist Yi-heng Yang has been described as an “exquisite collaborator” (Opera News), “superbly adept (Gramophone) and noted for her “remarkable expressivity and technique (Early Music Magazine). Ms. Yang is a co-founder of the Academy of Fortepiano Performance and co-founder of the International Fortepiano Virtual Salon Series.

Aquila Theatre is one of the foremost producers of classical theatre in the United States and has been bringing audiences world-class actors, captivating designs, innovative adaptations, and impactful direction since 1991.

Atonement Lutheran Church in KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

“Love and Laurels”

Nola Richardson, soprano
Roderick Williams OBE, baritone

George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759): Overture from Partenope, HWV 27
HANDEL: Rigaudon from Radamisto, HWV 12
Johann Friedrich FASCH (1688-1758): Sonata à 4 in D minor
—
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759): Cantata Apollo e Dafne, HWV 122

Twelfth Night
David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, directors
Nola Richardson, soprano
Roderick Williams, baritone

Ximenez & Handel

Twelfth Night presents a night of unforgettable music in a spectacular venue. Divided by an ocean and living more than a century apart, Pedro Ximenez and George Frideric Handel represent the two vibrant cultures of Peru and Italy. In spite of any differences, they eagerly drew on the artistic traditions buzzing around them. Ximenez’ music deftly weaves folk song around classical structures while Handel derived his inspiration from ancient Roman stories. Join Twelfth Night at the United Palace for this special night! 

FREE ADMISSION – RESERVE TICKETS AT LINK!

Twelfth Night presents a night of unforgettable music in a spectacular venue. Divided by an ocean and living more than a century apart, Pedro Ximenez and George Frideric Handel represent the two vibrant cultures of Peru and Italy. In spite of any differences, they eagerly drew on the artistic traditions buzzing around them. Ximenez’ music deftly weaves folk song around classical structures while Handel derived his inspiration from ancient Roman stories. Join Twelfth Night at the United Palace for this special night! 

Calvary Episcopal Church in PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

“Love and Laurels”

Led by virtuoso violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski, the dynamic ensemble Twelfth Night returns to Pittsburgh with a program featuring British baritone Roderick Williams OBE and American soprano Nola Richardson centered around George Frideric Handel’s fabulous cantata Apollo e Dafne. Based on the mythological tale of vain, amorous pursuit, Apollo e Dafne showcases the operatic flair of a very young Handel, where we see his incredible talent for drama, orchestration, and heartrendingly beautiful melody.

ARTISTS

Twelfth Night Ensemble
Roderick Williams baritone
Nola Richardson soprano

FEATURED CONCERT

The Twelfth Night Ensemble

Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya in SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

The English Orpheus
Rachell Ellen Wong & David Belkovski, directors

Based in New York City, Twelfth Night is an ensemble of historical performance specialists led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong, formed with the firm belief that art is best explored as a meeting place of the past, present, and future. Twelfth Night projects and engagements range from small chamber music to larger orchestral and operatic productions.

The English Orpheus features a program of works by Purcell, Locke, Handel, Neil Gow, Porpora, and more.

Twelfth Night debuts at Carnegie Hall with a monumental showcase of vocal and instrumental masterpieces. Featuring Julie Roset and Xenia Puskarz Thomas.

We are delighted to close our 2023-24 with the debut of Twelfth Night Ensemble, led by David Belkovski and Rachell Ellen Wong.

The San Diego audience will remember Rachell Wong as the wonderful concertmaster of Ensemble Jupiter during their last tour, so we are thrilled to present her again with her own exciting ensemble. Co-founded by Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski, Twelfth Night will present "The British Orpheus," a program of music by Purcell and Handel.

Follow violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski as they take you on a winding trip around Baroque Europe to showcase the undisputed champion of the instruments — the violin – in one of its most fertile artistic periods. The music is full of invention; on the program are both Tartini’s virtuosic and aptly named “Devil’s Trill” and Leclair’s memorable “Tambourin”. You’ll hear this and more on our Grand Tour — please enjoy the ride!

Baroque violinist Rachell Ellen Wong was the Grand Prize winner of the inaugural Barbash J.S. Bach Competition as well as a 2020 recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. Her harpsichordist is David Belkovski; together they co-direct Twelfth Night, a period ensemble based in NYC. The program will include music from German-speaking lands by J.S. Bach and 17th century violin virtuosi H.I.F Biber and J.H. Schmelzer.

This is a FREE concert! Click here to reserve your ticket.

Twelfth Night performs dramatic Baroque vocal and instrumental music in a beautiful Tribeca loft.

Link to tickets - limited seating: http://grpm.us/Hi6TXw

Twelfth Night performs an intimate house concert in Washington Heights on the theme of Love and Loss.

Click here to reserve your ticket!

Twelfth Night transports you to the burgeoning new metropolis of Baroque London with instrumental and vocal music by Handel, Purcell, and others. Featuring the brilliant French soprano Julie Roset.

Twelfth Night is hosted by the The Stissing Center for a program of gripping vocal and instrumental chamber music from Baroque Italy.

Whether petty or life-altering, rivalries persist throughout music history, consuming even the most well-known composers. Exploring feuds between Handel and Porpora, to Leclair and Guignon, Twelfth Night (led by Rachell Ellen Wong and David Belkovski) allows the listener to hear both sides of the story.

Twelfth Night will be the only historically informed ensemble featured at Chamber Music America’s National Conference annual showcase.

“Rachell Ellen Wong possesses the most incredibly inquisitive mind concerning sound and all the various shades that can emerge from the Baroque violin.” —CalPerformances.org

About the Program
Diverse Bizzarie: Corelli, Bach, Costello, and others

The 17th century witnessed a musical changing of the guard. In a short time, the violin emerged as the preeminent string instrument, overtaking the viola da gamba. As composers sought exciting new ways to feature the instrument, a variety of eclectic approaches surfaced over the span of just a few generations. Join violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski of Twelfth Night as they present a musical tour of Baroque Europe, performing favorite violin sonatas by Corelli and Bach alongside less well-known masterpieces of the genre. Works from across the continent represent a confluence of styles and tastes from an increasingly cosmopolitan era.

Twelfth Night performs scintillating sonatas by Italian composers Caldara, Vivaldi, and Lanzetti in a program that showcases the brilliance and flexibility of the rare violoncello da spalla (a cello held against the shoulder) played by Andrew Gonzalez.

Twelfth Night
Rachell Ellen Wong violin
Carmen Johnson-Pájaro violin
Andrew Gonzalez violoncello da spalla
David Belkovski harpsichord

Directed by the 2020 Avery Fisher Grant recipient violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski, Twelfth Night is an award-winning early music ensemble for the modern world. They will open Apex Concerts' Twelfth Season with a fascinating program titled From London to Dresden.

Diverse Bizzarie: Corelli, Bach, Costello, and others

The 17th century witnessed a musical changing of the guard. In a short time, the violin emerged as the preeminent string instrument, overtaking the viola da gamba. As composers sought exciting new ways to feature the instrument, a variety of eclectic approaches surfaced over the span of just a few generations. Join violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski of Twelfth Night as they present a musical tour of Baroque Europe, performing favorite violin sonatas by Corelli and Bach alongside less well-known masterpieces of the genre. Works from across the continent represent a confluence of styles and tastes from an increasingly cosmopolitan era.

“Nowadays the violoncello is also held between the legs.” – Leopold Mozart, 1756

We take plenty for granted these days. As Mozart’s father suggests, this might include how the cello can be played. As one of few specialists of the violoncello da spalla (a cello held against the shoulder), Twelfth Night member Andrew Gonzalez is in a unique position to illuminate this tantalizing instrument and technique. Featuring Italian Baroque music of vivid drama and expression –– Vivaldi, Lanzetti, and Caldara –– Twelfth Night highlights the brilliance and flexibility of the “shouldered cello.”

Twelfth Night is hosted by Chatham Baroque