Downtown Music Presents: “An English Pastoral” with Maximillian Jansen, Helena Baillie, and Timothy Lewis

As part of a month celebrating the Vocal Arts, tenor Maximillian Jansen is joined by Helena Baillie playing violin and viola, and organist Timothy Lewis for this program featuring the striking and rarely heard Four Hymns for Tenor and Viola of Ralph Vaughan Williams, as well as the composer’s evocative Lark Ascending. Maximillian Jansen is a versatile musician who has been heard in the operas of Handel and Mozart, and recently sang the title role in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring. He has appeared as a soloist with the Battenkill Chorale, Concerts in the Village, Cincinnati Fusion Ensemble, and the Victoria Civic Orchestra. London-born Helena Baillie was hailed by The Strad magazine for her “brilliance and poignance,” and stands apart for a rare ease on both violin and viola.  American Record Guide praised her “gorgeous singing tone” in an album that “from the opening flourish will be a special recital.” Timothy Lewis is Artistic and Managing Director of Downtown Music.

A Downtown Music debut.

This concert is offered in memory of two musicians who were tremendous friends of Downtown Music and its audience: Dorothy Happel and Vincent Lionti. Dorothy was a distinguished violinist who served as President of Downtown Music for many years.  Vince, a violist and member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, served as a Trustee of Downtown Music and conducted our chamber orchestra, Downtown Sinfonietta.