Because I was pecking away at the keyboard, writing that gargantuan review of Richard Strauss’ “The Egyptian Helen” (posted yesterday), I’m a little behind on the news. I was sorry to learn that the Boston Camerata’s Joel Cohen has died. Cohen, also a lutenist, was director of the group from 1969 to 2008.
He was certainly a familiar presence to record collectors. Under his direction, the Boston Camerata recorded more than 50 albums for the Harmonia Mundi, Erato, and Nonesuch labels. The breadth of the group’s discography is most impressive, encompassing medieval and Renaissance music, early Americana, Jewish music of the Baroque, Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” several Christmas albums, and two volumes of historic Shaker tunes.
Narcissa Williamson established the Boston Camerata in 1954, at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, as an adjunct to the museum’s musical instrument collection. The company’s current artistic director, French-born singer and scholar Anne Azéma, was Cohen’s wife. In addition, the couple founded the ensemble Camerata Mediterranea in 1990.
Cohen, who died on Sunday, was 84 years old. R.I.P.
https://bostoncamerata.org/about/joel-cohen/
“Shall We Gather at the River”
Salomone Rossi, “Baruch haba b’shem Adonai”
Carmina Burana, “O Fortuna”
More
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5O7LQ9OBrox61JreVKcEw