Ars Lyrica Houston Opens Season This Friday

The Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston kicks off its 2012-13 season this Friday, Sept. 21, at the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall with It Takes Two.

This program of double concerti features Bach's 4th "Brandenburg" Concerto and Haydn's Concerto in F Major for violin and harpsichord. Ars Lyrica welcomes back Canadian violinist Marc Destrubé, Dutch recorder virtuoso Paul Leenhouts, and Kathryn Montoya on Baroque oboe and recorder. Music Director Matthew Dirst conducts from the harpsichord.

Following the performance on September 21, subscribers and members of the ensemble will gather for a celebration of the release of Ars Lyrica's newest recording, Domenico Scarlatti's comic intermezzo La Dirindina, on the Sono Luminus label.The recording includes seldom-heard chamber works by this master of the keyboard sonata, performed by Matthew Dirst.