NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond our control, this NMM Live! event has been indefinitely postponed. Keep an eye on our event listings for an updated date and time when available!
Joseph Gascho, renowned harpsichordist, exceptional performer, and educator, skillfully bridges the music of the past with the present. His expertise as a soloist and collaborator transcends centuries, creating captivating experiences for audiences. Gascho's concerts intertwine superb performances with open dialogues, fostering engaging interactions with students studying keyboard, voice, conducting, or composition.
He will perform on the NMM’s harpsichord by José Calisto from 1780, a wonderfully preserved instrument that is typically Portuguese in both its design and decorative style. It has a single manual, with boxwood-covered naturals and ebony-covered sharps. The robust case, made mainly of spruce, is painted dark green on the exterior and veneered with Brazilian tulipwood on the interior. The original music desk is mostly of rosewood (palisander), as are the moldings and blocks around the keyboard. In typical Portuguese fashion, the instrument rests on trestles with cutouts in the shape of inverted hearts.
His debut solo recording showcases his own transcriptions of works by Bach, Handel, and Charpentier, and received high acclaim from the American Record Guide. The publication praised his rendition for its "sparkling articulation, subtle yet impactful rubato, and a remarkable grasp of the diverse national styles found in 17th and 18th century harpsichord music." Simultaneously, Gascho has been actively involved in producing sessions and recordings for DC's 21st Century Consort and esteemed pianist/composer Haskell Small. Additionally, he is commissioning new works for the harpsichord, set to be released and premiered during the 24/25 season.
Since 2014, Joseph Gascho has held the position of Professor of Harpsichord at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He also contributes to the Oberlin Conservatory's Baroque Performance Institute, where he conducts the student orchestra, provides chamber music coaching, and teaches basso continuo. Recognizing the significance of technology in the arts, Gascho has incorporated computer-assisted techniques in opera productions, a recent recording with the ensemble Harmonious Blacksmith and percussionist Glen Velez, and his basso continuo classes. In 2002, Gascho secured first prize in the Jurow International Harpsichord Competition. Under the guidance of Webb Wiggins and Arthur Haas, he earned master's and doctoral degrees in harpsichord from the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Maryland, where he also studied orchestral conducting with James Ross.
Gascho is highly sought after as a recording producer. Notably, he has recently overseen sessions and recordings for esteemed groups such as Pomerium, the Folger Consort, Trio Pardessus, the 21st Century Consort, Ensemble Gaudior, Three Notch'd Road, pianist/composer Haskell Small, Cantate Chamber Singers, and the Washington Master Chorale. Recent performances include collaborations with the National Symphony at Carnegie Hall, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra. Furthermore, Gascho conducted Idomeneo for the Maryland Opera Studio, and his repertoire encompasses a wide range of operas from Monteverdi to Mozart for Opera Vivente.
The NMM Live! Series is made possible by the USD Student Government Association and the South Dakota Arts Council through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
This program is free of cost for NMM Members!
FREE WITH ADMISSION
If you are a person with a disability and need a special accommodation to fully participate, please contact Disability Services at least 48 hours before an event. Students and the public can contact Disability Services at 605-658-3745 or disabilityservices@usd.edu. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at 605-658-3660.
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 5:00:00 PM UTC
NMM Live! | Joseph Gascho
A live stream of this concert will be available to watch for free on our website. Please visit the NMM Live Video page to tune in if you cannot join us in person!