After a much-needed three-week vacation in Europe (more on that later), BayTaper.com is back in action (albeit a bit jet-lagged). Just before June and I left on our trip, we had the pleasure of hosting several members of the phenomenal unconducted chamber orchestra A Far Cry during the first date of their inaugural west coast tour. Our good friend Megumi Stohs, who is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, is our connection to the group. Many years ago, Megumi worked for June on occasion while attending the Conservatory, and we ve kept in touch during the time that followed her graduation. The group is based out of Boston, and is starting to turn heads in classical music circles on the East Coast, so I couldn t help but take advantage of this opportunity by offering to photograph and record their performance in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young Museum on May 15, 2008. The show was simply amazing, and the recording came out stellar. Best of all, they ve granted permission to share the first piece played that night, Arcangelo Corelli s Concerto Grosso in F major, Op.6 No.9 (1708), which you can listen to by clicking the Play Now link below. On this tour, the group featured Sharon Cohen, Andrew Eng, Jesse Irons, Jae Young Lee, Shaw Pong Liu, Monica Pegis, Megumi Stohs, Ashley Vandiver, and Liza Zurlinden on violin; Margaret Dyer, Jason Fisher, and Franklin Shaw on viola; Loewi Lin, Jeremiah Shaw, and Courtenay Vandiver on cello; and Karl Doty on Bass. You can learn more about the group at AFarCry.org, and you can keep abreast of their ongoing projects and performances by checking their blog, which is updated regularly.
