Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents Bach & Scarlatti

Start: Monday, July 14, 2025 7:00PM
End: Monday, July 14, 2025 8:30PM

Spanish harpsichordist Irene Roldàn and baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan will present Bach & Scarlatti, the final 2025 Salish Sea Early Music Festival performance. The program will feature four solo harpsichord sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, three sonatas for harpsichord and flute by Johann Sebastian Bach, and a new transcription of a group of Scarlatti’s sonatas for flute and harpsichord. Irene Roldàn, winner of the prestigious Bach Prize at the XXXIII. International Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany among other competitions, has performed at major early music festivals in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and around Europe. Both born in 1685 and both incomparable virtuosos, Bach and Scarlatti had wildly divergent styles and most likely never met. Living in Spain for much of his life, Scarlatti's 555 sonatas for solo keyboard frequently incorporate elements of Spanish folk music and dance. Bach wrote twice as many works but rarely left central Germany and was relatively unknown during his lifetime. Irene Roldàn’s participation in these performances has been made possible with help from the Honorary Consulate of Spain in Seattle, and from the Programme for the Internationalisation of Spanish Culture (PICE) of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), which seeks to promote Spanish culture through the inclusion of Spanish artists and creators residing in Spain in the programming of cultural events outside of Spain. About Irene Roldán: Award-winning harpsichordist Irene Roldán was born in southern Spain in 1997. Described by the press as one of the most prominent Spanish harpsichordists on the international scene (ABC Sevilla), Irene currently lives and works in Basel, Switzerland. She gained international recognition in 2021, when she won first prize, never previously awarded in this competition, as well as the audience prize at the III. International Harpsichord Competition «Città di Milano». In the same year, her ensemble Flor Galante secured the first prize at the IV. International Bach Competition in Berlin. One year later, Irene was honored with the prestigious Bach Prize and an additional special award at the XXXIII. International Bach Competition held in Leipzig, Germany. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Admission is by suggested donation (a free will offering) of $20 to $30. Those 18 & under are free. All are welcome regardless of donation.