Musicians of the Old Post Road

Musicians of the Old Post Road (MOPR) is a chamber music ensemble based in the Boston area that specializes in period instrument performance. The ensemble often performs "rediscovered" works from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.[1] The ensemble, founded by Artistic Directors Suzanne Stumpf and Daniel Ryan, performs in historical buildings along the Boston Post Road, which was a trade and travel route between Boston and New York City from the late 17th through mid-19th centuries. MOPR's repertoire spans these dates.[2] The group has produced seven CDs, toured throughout Europe and North America, and received numerous awards, including the Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society in 1998.[3]

Notable performances and collaborations

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MOPR has toured both within the US and internationally. US appearances include the Boston Early Music Festival Concert Series,[4] and the Indianapolis Early Music Festival.[5] International appearances include performances at the Tage Alter Musik [de], Germany,[6] and El Museo Regional in Cuauhnáhuac, Mexico.[7]

MOPR has collaborated with La Fontegara of Mexico,[8] Schola Cantorum of Boston,[9] and Pamela Dellal, mezzo soprano.[10]

The ensemble was also commissioned to build a program to accompany an exhibit at the MIT Museum.[11] In 2006, the ensemble was featured on Boston's WCVB television’s Chronicle program about the history of the old Boston Post Road.[12]

Rediscovered works and programming

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The ensemble frequently performs lesser-known, rediscovered works. In a 2008 interview, Stumpf stated ¨We enjoy finding works not often selected for performance and combining it with interesting ways to present it to our audience.¨[13] The ensemble presents these rediscovered works within contextualized programs.[14]

Discography

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  • Roman Handel
  • Feliz Navidad
  • Telemann Twelve Fantasias and Other Works
  • Telemann and Bodinus Quartets
  • Galant with an Attitude: Music of Juan and José Pla
  • Trios and Scottish Song Settings of J.N. Hummel. The ensemble won the 1998 Noah Greenberg Award for this recording.[15]
  • The Virtuoso Double Bass[16]

Members

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The ensemble is composed of five core members: Suzanne Stumpf, flute, Daniel Ryan, cello, Sarah Darling, violin, Michael Bahmann, harpsichord, and Marcia Cassidy, viola.[17]

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References

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  1. ^ Myers, Robert (19 December 2009). "Musicians of the Old Post Road Polish Mediterranean Gems". Classical Voice of New England.
  2. ^ Duckett, Richard (19 December 2008). "Unusual is Standard for Old Post Road". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
  3. ^ Dyer, Richard (6 November 1998). "Classical Notes". The Boston Globe.
  4. ^ "1998-1999 Season". Boston Early Music Festival. Boston Early Music Festival. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Concerts Presented by Festival Music Society/Indianapolis Early Music". Indianapolis Early Music. Festival Music Society of Indiana. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Kurze Geschicte der Tage Alter Musik Regensburg". Tage Alter Musik. Tage Alter Musik Regensberg. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  7. ^ "About Musicians of the Old Post Road". Musicians of the Old Post Road. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  8. ^ "La Fontegara". La Fontegara México. IPOWER. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Recent Concert Seasons". Schola Cantorum of Boston. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Recordings with Musicians of the Old Post Road". Pamela Dellal. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  11. ^ "On The Town". The Tech. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  12. ^ "About Musicians of the Old Post Road". Musicians of the Old Post Road. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  13. ^ Duckett, Richard. "Unusual Is Standard for Old Post Road". No. 19 December 2008. Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
  14. ^ Liu, Cathy (31 October 1993). "Playing with History along the Old Post Road". Boston Sunday Globe.
  15. ^ "Chorus Pro Musica surveys its 50 years". Boston Globe. 6 November 1998.
  16. ^ "CD Discography". Musicians of the Old Post Road. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  17. ^ Duckett, Richard (19 December 2008). "Unusual Is Standard for Old Post Road". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.