1974 was a fairly bleak time for Early Music in London. Orchestras were modern, thick and heavy; historically informed performances were a rarity, and often not very precise. Against this backdrop, Jonathan Salzedo, Marion Rubinstein and a few friends started a new group, The Albany Consort, with the usual ideals – lively performances and no financial worries, but somehow they would eventually become rich and famous. Things rarely go as planned. Today, Jonathan is constantly surprised that the group still exists, still runs on a shoestring, still fuels his creative personality, and still provides the best musical experiences for performers and listeners.
One of the secrets of their success is a very simple formula – no one performs with the group unless they really want to! Jonathan constantly seeks out interesting musicians to work with. Over the years, some 400 musicians have taken part in over 300 concerts on both sides of the Atlantic. With the broadest repertoire of any early music group, they tackle everything from the 18th century, from the largest to the smallest groupings, sometimes with authentic instruments, sometimes with modern instruments. Jonathan’s view is that many different approaches to the music are possible, and he aims to bring together groups of musicians who can work together and create a terrific result.
The group performed regularly in London until Jonathan moved to California in 1981. Since then, The Albany Consort has been a fixture of the San Francisco music scene. Jonathan also performs with Bay Area orchestras (Jubilate, San Francisco Symphony, Monterey Symphony), choruses (Soli Deo Gloria, California Bach Society, Coro Hispano) and ensembles (El Mundo, Whole Noyse, Santa Cruz Chamber Players). He performs new music (Richard Worn Ensemble, Latin American Chamber Music Society) and works with innovative soloists (Karen Bentley, Viviana Guzman) sometimes using the harpsichord in unusual contexts (tango, new age). Once a maker of instruments, Jonathan still enjoys the challenges of moving harpsichords (generally single-handedly) and tuning them (he is an expert on early tuning systems).
Meet The Artists
Jonathan Salzedo, director
Since moving to California 30 years ago, British-born harpsichordist Jonathan Salzedo has become a popular collaborator with leading Bay Area orchestras (Jubilate, San Francisco Symphony, Monterey Symphony), choruses (Soli Deo Gloria, California Bach Society, Coro Hispano) and ensembles (Whole Noyse, Santa Cruz Chamber Players, Momsemble). With his wife Marion Rubinstein, he co-directs the Albany Consort, now in its 37th year, which tackles the entire spectrum of baroque music from duos to opera. He performs new music (Richard Worn Ensemble, Latin American Chamber Music Society) and works with innovative soloists (Karen Bentley, Viviana Guzman) creating varied programs using the harpsichord in new contexts (tango, new age). Once a maker of instruments, Jonathan still enjoys the challenges of moving harpsichords (generally single-handedly) and tuning them (he is an expert on early tuning systems). Jonathan has two grownup children who are both fine musicians. In his spare time, he sings at Congregation Etz Chayim, Palo Alto, teaches Alexander Technique, and runs a software consulting business.
Jonathan first took up harpsichord while a mathematics student at Oxford, England. Prior to that he had been an active and occasionally prize-winning pianist though his youth. After graduating, he intended to study harpsichord seriously with someone really famous, but ended up learning most of what he knows from careful listening and from working with terrific soloists.
Since moving to California, British-born harpsichordist Jonathan Salzedo has become a popular collaborator with leading local groups, including San Francisco Symphony and Jubilate. With his wife Marion Rubinstein, he co-directs the Albany Consort, which performs the entire spectrum of baroque music. He also explores unusual contexts for the harpsichord (new music and tango). Once a maker of harpsichords, Jonathan still enjoys moving them (generally single-handedly) and tuning them. He has two children who are both fine musicians.
Jonathan first took up harpsichord while a mathematics student at Oxford, England. Prior to that he had been an active and occasionally prize-winning pianist though his youth. After graduating, he intended to study harpsichord seriously with someone really famous, but ended up learning most of what he knows from careful listening and from working with terrific soloists.
Now living in California, British harpsichordist Jonathan Salzedo is a popular collaborator with local groups including San Francisco Symphony and Jubilate. With his wife Marion Rubinstein, he co-directs the Albany Consort. He also explores unusual harpsichord repertoire (new music and tango). Once a harpsichord maker, Jonathan still likes moving and tuning them.
Jonathan first took up harpsichord while a mathematics student at Oxford, after being an active young pianist. After graduating, he planned to study harpsichord with someone famous, but ended up learning what he knows from working with fine soloists.
Marion Rubinstein, director
Marion Rubinstein, recorder, received her training in performance and musicology at Stanford, where she studied with Margaret Fabrizio and George Houle, and also at King’s College, London University. She performs frequently on organ and harpsichord as well as on recorders. She was a founder and has been co-director of the Albany Consort (now in its 37th season), and plays as soloist and accompanist for the Santa Cruz Chamber Players, Soli Deo Gloria, Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Santa Clara Chorale, Whole Noyse and other groups. She also greatly enjoys sharing her musical discoveries with her students.
Christa Pfeiffer, soprano
Soprano, Christa Pfeiffer, is active in opera and oratorio throughout the Bay Area having performed with Oakland Opera, Festival Opera, American Bach Soloists, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra and Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. Operatic roles include Ilia (Idomeneo), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Musetta (La Bohème) and Gilda (Rigoletto) and on the concert stage she has been soloist in Fauré’s Requiem, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Bach’s Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion.
Recent performances include Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Arizona Masterworks Chorale, and Haydn’s St. Nicolai Mass at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. Equally at home in contemporary repertoire, Ms. Pfeiffer gave a live broadcast recital including Poulenc’s Banalités on KPFA and performed Messiaen’s Poèmes pour Mi at the Britten Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh, England. Ms Pfeiffer received a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Eastman School of Music.
