PROMENADE

Baroque Ensemble

L to r, seated: Alexander Russakovsky, Dana Ragsdale and Danilo Mezzadri; standing, Kim Woolly

Formed in 1997 by faculty-artists in the School of Music at Southern Miss, the ensemble of Kim Woolly (bassoon), Alexander Russakovsky (cello), Danilo Mezzadri (flute), and Dana Ragsdale (harpsichord), shares a depth of professional experience as soloists and ensemble players, as well as a passion for Baroque music.

They present varied programs of seventeenth and eighteenth century solo and ensemble works by English, French, German, Italian and Spanish composers. Their first CD, Music from the Court of Versailles, was made to complement the Splendors of Versailles exhibition in Jackson, Miss., in 1997.

Repertoire selected from the French Baroque period included solor and trio sonatas by Francois Couperin, jean-Marie Leclair, Joseph Bodinde Boismortier, and Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre.

Promenade’s passionate commitment to Baroque music is enhanced by the musicians’ knowledge of performance practice. In their concerts, they hope to communicate to their audiences not only the inspiration of the time in which this music was written, but also their personal excitement in discovering, then bringing to life, the music in the present.