Soprano shines in Music of the Baroque's 'Baroque Blockbusters' concert

Richard Egarr makes his MOB debut as conductor and harpsichord soloist

Mar. 3, 2026 at 7:50pm

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Music of the Baroque presented a concert of Baroque masterpieces on Monday night at the Harris Theater, featuring harpsichordist-conductor Richard Egarr in his MOB debut. While Egarr's performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 was a highlight, the concert's star was soprano Rowan Pierce, who delivered standout performances of works by Handel and Purcell.

Why it matters

This concert marked Egarr's first appearance with Music of the Baroque, a prominent early music ensemble in Chicago. Egarr's interpretations of the Baroque repertoire, as well as the showcase of rising soprano talent in Rowan Pierce, were significant events for classical music fans in the city.

The details

In the Bach concerto, Egarr handled the challenging harpsichord cadenza with skill, though the overall balance of the reduced orchestra was problematic at times. Soprano Rowan Pierce was the true star, delivering virtuosic performances of Handel's motet "Silete, venti" and excerpts from Purcell's semi-opera "The Fairy-Queen". Her clear diction, focused timbre, and impressive coloratura were highlights. Egarr also collaborated with Pierce in a duet from "The Fairy-Queen", showcasing their musical chemistry.

  • The concert took place on Monday night, March 3, 2026 at the Harris Theater in Chicago.

The players

Richard Egarr

A harpsichordist-conductor making his debut with Music of the Baroque, a prominent early music ensemble in Chicago.

Rowan Pierce

A soprano who delivered standout performances of works by Handel and Purcell at the concert.

Music of the Baroque

A prominent early music ensemble in Chicago that presented the 'Baroque Blockbusters!' concert at the Harris Theater.

Kevin Case

The co-assistant concertmaster who played in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.

Mary Stolper

The principal flutist who played in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.

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What they’re saying

“Part of what makes the first-movement cadenza so startling is that it represents the harpsichord breaking free of its typical subservient role. This effect is lost if—as in this performance—the harpsichord overwhelms the musical texture the entire time.”

— John Y. Lawrence, Critic

“Throughout the entire concert, her approach to the text was straightforward. Her phrasing and articulation were attentive to the words, yet she did not engage in rhetorical underlining. Instead, in this song as in the others, she simply let the natural beauty of Purcell's melody and her own timbre speak for themselves.”

— John Y. Lawrence, Critic

What’s next

Music of the Baroque's season continues with 'Vivaldi & Friends' on April 12 and 13.

The takeaway

This concert highlighted the versatility and talent of soprano Rowan Pierce, who delivered standout performances that captivated the audience, as well as the continued artistic growth of harpsichordist-conductor Richard Egarr in his MOB debut.