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Hancock Church Lexington, MassachusettsI A N WAT S O N A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o rSunday, September 27, 2026
NEW ENGLAND BAROQUE Susanna Ogata solo violin Jesse Irons violin Renee Hemsing violin Jenny Stirling viola Guy Fishman cello Pete Walsh violone Ian Watson harpsichord/directorSunday, September 27, 2026 3pm
P R O G R A M Sinfonia in G "il coro delle muse" RV 149 Antonio Vivaldi 1678-1741 Allegro molto - Andante -Allegro Chaconne Giuseppe Brescianello 1690-1758 Cello Concerto in A minor A. Vivaldi allegro - no tempo marking - allegro The Four Seasons. A Vivaldi 1. Concerto No. 1 Op. 8, RV 269, Spring I. Allegro II. Largo e pianissimo sempre III. Allegro pastorale 2. Concerto No. 2 Op. 8, RV 315, Summer I. Allegro non molto II. Adagio e piano – presto e forte III. Presto 3. Concerto No. 3 Op. 8, RV 293, Autumn I. Allegro II. Adagio molto III. Allegro 4. Concerto No. 4 Op. 8, RV 297, Winter I. Allegro non molto II. Largo III. Allegro
IAN WATSON is acclaimed as a leading interpreter of Baroque and Classical repertoire, with a distinguished career as conductor, keyboard virtuoso, and specialist in historically informed performance. Equally at home in the concert hall and opera house, he has earned an international reputation as a conductor, period-instrument specialist, and virtuoso harpsichordist, organist, fortepianist, and pianist. Since becoming Associate Conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston in 2016, Watson has established himself as one of North America’s foremost figures in early music. His work with the Society includes acclaimed performances of major orchestral and choral repertoire, appearances at Tanglewood, and innovative digital productions during the pandemic, notably Messiah for Our Time with WGBH. Watson has conducted and performed as soloist with leading orchestras and ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, English Baroque Soloists, The Sixteen, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, and Handel and Haydn Society. A lifelong advocate of opera, Watson began as a vocal coach and conductor at Glyndebourne and has since conducted hundreds of performances of more than fifty operas across the United Kingdom and Europe. He served as Principal
Conductor of the Darmstadt State Opera, conducting repertoire ranging from Monteverdi and Handel to Strauss and Janáček. His performances of Handel’s Serse with Arcadia Players attracted international attention, while his Giulio Cesare in Bremen was praised by Opernwelt as being guided by “the spiritus rector.” Watson’s longstanding collaboration with Sir John Eliot Gardiner included serving as assistant conductor, continuo player, and organ and harpsichord soloist for the landmark Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, performing all of J. S. Bach’s sacred cantatas on their liturgical feast days. An internationally respected keyboard artist, Watson has appeared on numerous recordings and film soundtracks, including Amadeus, Death and the Maiden, Restoration, and the BBC’s David Copperfield. His complete recording of Beethoven’s Sonatas for Fortepiano and Violin with violinist Susanna Ogata has received international critical acclaim. Watson is Artistic Director of the Connecticut Early Music Festival, where he develops programming spanning the Baroque through early Romantic periods. Born in Buckinghamshire, England, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and with Flor Peeters in Belgium. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) and Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
LIVE AT LEXINGTON CENTRE There is something special about hearing Early Music in an intimate setting. Created for expressive voices and instruments and for a close connection between performers and listeners, this music comes alive in a uniquely personal way. Live at Lexington Centre, presented by New England Baroque, brings exceptional Baroque musicianship to Lexington, Massachusetts. The series offers the artistic quality and vitality of some of the finest performers in Boston’s renowned early-music scene in a welcoming, convenient local setting—without the traffic, parking, and travel into Boston! Live at Lexington Centre is about building a musical community: welcoming longtime Baroque enthusiasts and inviting newcomers to discover the immediacy and beauty of Early Music. Each concert offers an opportunity to listen closely—to the intricate conversation between instruments, the expressive possibilities of historically informed performance, and the remarkable imagination of composers whose music continues to speak across centuries. We hope the series becomes a gathering place for music lovers throughout Lexington and the surrounding communities. Welcome to Live at Lexington Centre and enjoy the music!
Handel Messiah08 NOV19 DECTwo harpsichords. One great concert featuring works by Bach, Krebs, Pasquini, Duncombe & Le Roux. Featuring harpsichordists John McKean and Ian Watson.Start a new holiday tradition! Come hear a boldy reimagined Chamber Messiah with Ian Watson conducting from the harpsichord.SunSat3 p m3 p mFour Seasons/ Dueling Harps: $40 in-advance / $45 at the door Messiah: $50 in-advance / $55 at the doorCONCERTSCONCERTS upcomingupcomingtickets and info: NewEnglandBaroque.org
I A N WAT S O N A r t i s t i c D i r e c t o r