BLUE Concert: If It Ain't Baroque

A chamber music program explores the enduring influence of Baroque composition through both historical works and modern reinterpretations. Taking place Tuesday, March 31 at the New World Center, If It Ain’t Baroque… is presented by the Fellows of the New World Symphony as part of the BLUE Concert series, which highlights collaborative, artist-curated performances.

The program draws inspiration from the musical traditions of 18th-century Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach’s works were first performed, while expanding to include pieces by composers such as Barbara Strozzi, Carlo Gesualdo and Caterina Assandra. Selections range from Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos to contemporary arrangements and compositions influenced by Baroque structure and style, including works by Maurice Ravel and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Performed by New World Symphony Fellows, the concert reflects the ensemble’s focus on experimentation and interdisciplinary learning through its BLUE (Build, Learn, Understand, Experiment) initiative. The evening offers a varied program that bridges early music with later interpretations, presented in a flexible, pay-what-you-wish format.