Kuipers to perform on 5/16

By Freya Bergren

Orchestra of New Spain (ONS) will present its final Salon concert of the 25-26 season on Saturday, May 16 at 6 p.m. in the Uptown residence of ONS Treasurer and Board Members Richard and Alice Riggins Stevenson. 

The prominent Texas cellist Joseph Kuipers (pictured) has chosen for his Cello Alone concert, a program of great variety including Eastern Orthodox Chants, American Bluegrass, Catalonian Folksongs, a Boccherini Fandango and Ancient Mediterranean Laments all expressing the great beauty of the instrument’s warmth and rich tones. The event will take place in a large community space in an iconic Uptown building, The Fairmont, where guests can choose a drink at the bar and view the property and garden/pool area before selecting their seats in the Park Room concert space. Following first half of the program, a tasty buffet is served in the dining room.

Kuipers is a Dallas based cellist, educator and arts leader whose work centers on innovative performance, education and community engagement. Creative Director of Texas Cellos, he leads nationally recognized performance initiatives including the Fredericksburg Music Festival and School. 

Having trained with notable teachers in the USA and Europe he is equally fluent on modern and gut strings, and is known for programming that places Baroque, classical and contemporary music in dialogue.

He has appeared at major festivals and institutions worldwide, including the Aspen and Ravinia Music Festivals, Kronberg Academy and the World Cello Congress, and has collaborated with leading living composers such as Arvo Pärt, Heinz Holliger and Helmut Lachenmann.

Wilkins said: “This is the first time we have featured a solo concert of cello works with a repertoire very different from our usual early music/baroque approach. The works are based on religious, folk and oral traditions, with only one classical ‘composed’ piece: a Spanish fandango.” 

Tickets are $70 for wine, buffet and valet parking. Address provided with ticket purchase at ticketdfw.com or calling 214-871-5000. For information call 214-750-1492 or visit orchestraofnewspain.org.