Arcadia Players
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,{{cite web |title=Who We Are |url=http://www.arcadiaplayers.org/who-we-are.html |website=www.arcadiaplayers.org}} the Arcadia Players holds a residency at the Massachusetts Center for Renaissance Studies at UMass Amherst.{{Cite web|url=http://scua.library.umass.edu/umarmot/arcadia-players/|title=Arcadia Players – Special Collections and University Archives}}{{cite news |last1=Waugh |first1=Alice |title=New music director brings broad experience to Lincoln church |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20120823/News/308239511 |agency=www.wickedlocal.com |date=2012}} The ensemble's website states they "embrace historical performance practice to illuminate and invigorate the great Western heritage of vocal and instrumental music."{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcadiaplayers.org/|title=Arcadia Players|website=Arcadia Players}}
In 2006, the Arcadia Players released an album with Jaap Schröder, titled Trio Sonatas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/s?i=popular&rh=p_32:Arcadia+Players&ref=dp_byline_sr_music_3|title=Amazon.com|website=www.amazon.com}} The ensemble partnered with The Shakespeare Concerts for several years, releasing three projects through Navona Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hbdirect.com/|title=HBDirect|website=HBDirect}}{{Cite web|url=http://949.215.myftpupload.com/home/history/|title=HISTORY}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.navonarecords.com/|title=Navona Records|website=www.navonarecords.com}}
The Arcadia Players has collaborated with several institutions throughout New England, including the Connecticut Early Music Festival,{{cite news |last1=Koster |first1=Rick |title=Early Music Fest's Ian Watson in conversation |url=https://www.theday.com/article/20160609/ent10/160609157 |agency=The Day |publisher=The Day Publishing Company |date=2016}} Dartmouth College, the Hartt School, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Yale University. Longtime artistic director, Ian Watson, stepped down in 2019.{{cite news |last1=Tamer |first1=Joyce |title=Arcadia Players give superb rendition of Bach's 'Mass' |url=https://www.telegram.com/article/20101012/NEWS/10120411/1011/ |agency=Telegram & Gazette |date=2010}}{{cite news |last1=Kraft |first1=Stephanie |title=Street-Smart Handel |url=https://valleyadvocate.com/2011/06/30/street-smart-handel/ |agency=Valley Advocate |date=2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegram.com/article/20111017/NEWS/111019614|title=Nuanced Beethoven take lets Arcadia Players shine|website=telegram.com}}{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=The Daily Hampshire Gazette |title=Arcadia Players concert a pleasure of sight, sound |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DHGB&p_theme=dhgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=Arcadia%20Players%20concert%20a%20pleasure%20of%20sight,%20sound%20AND%20date%28all%29&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=%28Arcadia%20Players%20concert%20a%20pleasure%20of%20sight,%20sound%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no |agency=The Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2012}}{{cite web |last1=Noble |first1=Clifton Jr. |title=Arcadia Players kicked off 24th season with works of Mozart, Haydn |url=https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2012/10/arcadia_players_kicked_off_24t.html |website=MassLive.com|date=7 October 2012 }}{{cite news |last1=Morford |first1=Mark |title=Music review: Arcadia Players perform Beethoven |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Archives/2014/10/morfordreview-hg-103014 |agency=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2014}}{{cite news |last1=Morford |first1=Mark |title=A divine collaboration: Arcadia Players, Illuminati Chorus perform Mozart's 'Requiem' |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Arts/A-divine-collaboration-Arcadia-Players-Illuminati-Chorus-perform-Mozart-s--Requiem--704558 |agency=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2016}}{{cite news |last1=Morford |first1=Mark |title=Music review: Contrasting performances introduce autumn's music |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/morford-review-4891501 |agency=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2016}}{{cite news |last1=Powers |first1=Keith |title=In A Rare Staging, Poets' Theatre Revives 17th Century Semi-Opera 'King Arthur' |url=https://www.wbur.org/artery/2016/11/17/poets-theatre-king-arthur |agency=WBUR |date=2016}}{{cite news |last1=Pfarrer |first1=Steve |title=Arcadia Players open new season |url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Arcadia-Players-open-new-season-20602792 |agency=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2018}}{{cite news |last1=Goudreau |first1=Chris |title=A blast from the past: Arcadia Players celebrate their 30th anniversary of performing on period instruments |url=https://www.amherstbulletin.com/Arcadia-Players-30th-anniversary-27867818 |agency=Amherst Bulletin |publisher=Daily Hampshire Gazette |date=2019}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.arcadiaplayers.org/concert-season.html|title=CONCERT SEASON|website=Arcadia Players}}
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)