Kingsbury Ensemble to feature natural horn player R.J. Kelley

The Kingsbury Ensemble, one of the Midwest’s premier early music ensembles, will present a concert of Classical and early Romantic works for natural horn, soprano and fortepiano at 8 p.m. March 5 in the Ballroom Theater of the 560 Music Center.

Harpsichordist Maryse Carlin, instructor in the Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, directs the ensemble, which frequently draws early music specialists from across the United States.

The program will feature lieder (typically for one singer and piano) by Franz Schubert and sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven and Nikolaus Freiherr von Krufft.

Appearing as special guest artist will be renowned natural horn player R.J. Kelley. Kelley will be joined by soprano Jennifer Jakob and fortepianist Seth Carlin, professor of music and head of WUSTL’s piano program in the Department of Music.

On Wednesday, March 4, the Department of Music and the Kingsbury Ensemble will co-sponsor a lecture-demonstration on the natural horn by Kelley. The event, free and open to the public, will take place at 5 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the 560 Music Center and will present a unique opportunity to learn more about this instrument and its rich repertoire, Maryse Carlin said.

Praised as one of the great masters of the natural horn, Kelley is in international demand as soloist and chamber artist. He has appeared as soloist with New York’s acclaimed Aulos Ensemble, the American Classical Orchestra, the San Francisco Philharmonia Baroque and the Freiburg Barock Orchestra (Germany). Equally adept on modern horn, Kelley also has performed with the New York Philharmonic and on Broadway.

The valveless horn, or Waldhorn, has been used for signaling since antiquity and was first used for musical entertainment in Europe in the late 17th century at events centered on court life and the royal hunt. The horn was equipped with a modern valve system in the 19th century.

Seth Carlin will join Kelley in sonatas by Beethoven and von Krufft. Carlin has performed with orchestras around the world and with conductors including Nicholas McGegan, Leonard Slatkin and Roger Norrington. He has appeared in recitals at major international festivals and with Pinchas Zukerman, Anner Bylsma and Malcolm Bilson, among others, and recorded music of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert on fortepiano.

For the past two years, Jakob has been a Leigh Gerdine Young Artist for Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She has performed at the Sheldon Auditorium and in Washington University’s Liederabend.

A native of Germany and a graduate of Oberlin College, she is a recipient of a prestigious Sara Tucker Study Grant awarded by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation in New York and will be making her debut at the Sante Fe Opera this summer.

A highlight of the program will be a performance of Schubert’s “Auf dem Strom (On the River)” for fortepiano, soprano and horn.

Tickets are $10 at the door and free for WUSTL students with a valid ID.

The Kingsbury Ensemble’s next concert is April 4 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City.

The program, “Folias from Spain, Italy and France,” will feature Brazilian recorder player Clea Galhano.

For more information, call 862-2675 or visit kingsburyensemble.org.