American Classical Orchestra, New York City’s largest period instrument orchestra, offers a range of free digital activities from May through July, starting May 6 with a live-streamed program featuring the trio of Beethoven clarinets as part of Gotham’s popular Midtown Early Music Scene concert series.

Additional digital offerings include TACOTalk Orchestra’s new animated podcast series, hosted by Creative Director and Founder Thomas Crawford and featuring ACO musicians and special guests (new episodes through May 25); as well as the release of seven new video recordings of Beethoven sonatas performed on the pianoforte, featuring two instruments from the Metropolitan Museum’s distinguished collection, among many other key factors, performed by an impressive roster of early music keyboardists from around the world (from June 3 to July 15).

TACOTalk PODCAST SERIES

TACOTalk is ACO’s new podcast series, affectionately referred to as “TACO” by its members. Through in-depth conversations with the Orchestra’s musicians and special guests, host and artistic director Thomas Crawford shares his thoughts on music, the movement of vintage instruments in the United States, and why the ACO plays these “old” instruments. Produced by Mark Zaki, each episode explores the crossroads between classical musicians and historical performance and contemporary culture. Eleven episodes are available to date. Details for the remaining four episodes of this season will be released in May and are listed below. Click here to access all podcasts.

May 4: sponsor of the pianoforte
With American pianist Malcolm Bilson
May 11: Duo Concertante II
With ACO Principal Double Bassist John Feeney and Violinist Krista Bennion Feeney
May 18: Classical music for children
With the founder of the Orchestra’s CMK initiative, Mae Miller
May 25: in the words of the maestro
TACOTalk producer Mark Zaki interviews art director Thomas Crawford

THURSDAY, MAY 6 AT 1:15 PM ET
The ACO musicians make their debut in this series with a rarely heard interpretation of period instruments from Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio, Opus 11, in addition to the Adagio Cantabile from Sonata No.3 in B flat for clarinet and piano by Johann Baptist Vanhal. Artists include Myron Lutzke, ACO principal cello; early music pianist Dongsok Shin, who will play an original Viennese pianoforte dated 1800; and classical clarinetist Edward Matthew, whose appearances range from the Handel + Haydn Society on Broadway to Phantom of the Opera. The performance will be broadcast live on the Midtown Concerts series website, Facebook page and the series’ YouTube channel. It will remain available for streaming on demand.

Midtown Concert Series, Thursday, May 6 at 1:15 p.m. ET
Edward Matthew, clarinet
Myron Lutzke, cello
Dongsok Shin, pianoforte
Beethoven: Clarinet trio, op. 11
Vanhal: Sonata n ° 3 in B flat for clarinet and piano
Access: Free live concert available on the Midtown Concerts Series website, on its Facebook page and on its YouTube channel. Also available for streaming on demand.

VIDEO RELEASES OF BEETHOVEN SONATAS, FROM JUNE 3 TO JULY 15

Recitals featuring Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas performed on the pianoforte were to be part of ACO’s Sfzp Project, its three-year cycle of programs and events designed to advance pianoforte performance in New York and the United States. -of the. Canceled this season due to the pandemic but due to resume in the fall of 2022, the Orchestra has decided to film the interpretation of seven of these sonatas. The works are performed by the greatest keyboardists around the world on magnificent original and replica fortepianos, including two instruments from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The films will be released weekly Thursdays at 11 a.m. ET from June 3 to July 15, available to stream on the COA website, Facebook page, and the series’ YouTube channel. They will remain accessible for streaming on demand.

Thursday, June 3, 11 a.m. ET
Eric Zivian, piano
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.12 in A-flat major, Op. 26 ‘Funeral March’
Recorded in January 2021 by videographer Boby Borisov in Berkeley, California on a Paul Poletti copy of a pianoforte by Jean-Marie Dulcken c. 1795

Thursday, June 10, 11 a.m. ET
Shuann Chai, piano
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionate’
Recorded in May 2021 by the videographer Eric de Clercq at the Edwin Beunk workshop in the Netherlands on a John Broadwood Fortress from 1807.

Thursday, June 17, 11 a.m. ET
Dongsok Shin, pianoforte
Beethoven: Early piano sonata to be confirmed
Recorded in May 2021 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a Johann Stein from 1792.

Thursday, June 24, 11 a.m.ET
Jiayan Sun, pianoforte
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21, in C major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’
Recorded in May 2021 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on an 1827 John Broadwood fortepiano.

Thursday, July 1 at 11 a.m. ET
Petra Somlai, pianoforte
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, n ° 2 ‘quasi una fantasia’ ‘Moonlight’
Previously published, recorded in June 2020 by Daniël Brüggen at the Old-Chatolick Church in Amsterdam, on a Chris Maene copy of an Anton Walter pianoforte, 1795.

Thursday, July 8, 11 a.m. ET
Shuann Chai, pianoforte
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.25 in G major, Op. 79 ‘cuckoo’
Recorded in May 2021 by videographer Eric de Clercq at the Edwin Beunk studio in the Netherlands on a Viennese Michael Rosenberger 1800. Thursday, July 15, 11 am ET
Dongsok Shin, pianoforte
Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonata to be confirmed
Recorded in May 2021 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on an 1827 John Broadwood fortepiano.