Celebrate post-Valentine’s with Handel, Wine, and Chocolate
You probably know Etz Chayim congregant Jonathan Salzedo as the guy who reads Torah every Saturday and dramatizes the Jonah story on Yom Kippur. In his life outside Etz Chayim he is a freelance musician, playing harpsichord with the San Francisco Symphony, Symphony San Jose, and many orchestras, choirs and individuals from Monterey to Santa Rosa, part of the loose collective known in the Bay Area performers as The Freeway Philharmonic.

Playing the harpsichord most often includes schlepping your own instrument, setting it up and tuning it. Jonathan is quite the master of all these ancillary skills, and even built a few instruments in his youth. He has his own group – The Albany Consort – whose name dates back to London in the 70s, when they were the resident musicians at St George’s Cathedral, Albany Street. And it’s coming to Etz Chayim to delight fans with some Handel (The Amorous Duel) and some sparkly instrumentals.

Curious? It’s all happening on Wednesday, February 15 at 7:30 pm. An hour of lovely music followed by a wine and chocolate reception (which for balance will also include juice and fruit). Tickets are $30, family $80, proceeds after costs to benefit Etz Chayim. And note: The Albany Consort never turns anyone away for lack of funds.

Right before the concert, at 6:00 pm, Jonathan will demonstrate the joys of the harpsichord to the Religious School kids, and all are welcome to show up for this free offering, whether picking up or just hanging out for a few minutes. The whole group of seven musicians of The Albany Consort will be there too and will whet musical appetites with brief selections from their program.

Want to know more? www.albanyconsort.com/upcoming.