Annual music festival remembers IU students, Mozart

This year's Bloomington Early Music Festival spans many time periods and music genres since the festival celebrates both the lives of five IU students killed in a plane crash last month and Mozart's 250th birthday.\nMozart's opera "Il re pastore" kicked off the 13th annual BLEMF last Friday night.\n"There was more dramatic intensity coming from the audience," said Brian Arreola, who sang tenor as Alessandro. "I could even hear it in the other performer's voices."\nThe opera marked the beginning of a 10-day event, and Saturday night's concert was in memory of the music students who died last month.\nGeorgina Joshi and Zachary Novak, two of those students, were expected to perform in BLEMF's Mozart celebration this year.\nThe students' passion for BLEMF will be fulfilled throughout the festival with a celebration of Mozart's 250th birthday. The celebration includes the playing of several of his pieces including Friday night's opera, "Il re pastore," which will be performed once more at 7:30 p.m. May 26 in Auer Hall. \nThe use of Classical instruments from that time period is a first for BLEMF, which continues to expand on its realism through the use of time-specific instruments.\n"The goal is to accentuate the variety of early music," said Victor Harnack, a board member of BLEMF.\nSeveral genres and time periods are enacted each year and the authenticity of the music remains an integral ingredient to the festival. BLEMF's performers play and use genuine and appropriate instruments that existed in the time period the music was \ncomposed.\nThe change leading up to Classical instruments was very gradual, but by the late 18th century, instruments were being made to have a clearer and wider range of sound. Stringed instruments underwent many changes, and the harpsichord had been overcome by the \npiano.\nTo keep in tune with the theme of the celebration, the BLEMF Orchestra will also be using late 18th century instruments for the first time as it performs Mozart pieces and others from this time period.\nThe festival ends May 29 with a performance by the Bloomington Baroque and Classical ensemble led by BLEMF Artistic Director Stanley Ritchie. \nFor more information or a complete schedule of event, go to www.blemf.org.