Studies say that listening to classic music boosts memory, decreases blood pressure, reduces pain, and thwarts depression. Plus, the benefits are even stronger when consumed live.
To your health! Four top-notch classical music concerts are set to take place in Queens this weekend. This includes violins in the northeast, a harp in the middle, and a bassoon heading to west. A list follows.
South Indian Inspired Music is at Bayside Historical Society (208 Totten Ave., $15) on Saturday, March 2, at 3 pm.
Violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy mix the traditions of South Indian Classical Music, Western Chamber Music, and Jazz. The husband and wife have been artists-in-residence at Avaloch Farm Music Institute and Next Stage Arts Project.
Quarantine Compositions is at The Church-in-the-Gardens (50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, $20 suggested donation) on the same day, March 2, at 7:30 pm.
The evening features new works that local composers Manuel Ciordia, Lesly DeCastro, Sunny Knable, Howie Kenty, and Lori Laitman wrote during, after, and about the COVID pandemic. The performers include soprano Sara Paar, bassoonist Scott Pool, and composers DeCastro and Knable, who also rock vocals and piano.
Return to the same Forest Hills religious institution on March 3 for Chamber Music with The Con Brio Ensemble at 4:30 pm. (Price not specified.)
Diana Mittler-Battipaglia, a pianist who is a Professor of Music and Choral Director at Lehman College-CUNY, runs Con Brio. She’ll perform Beethoven, Schumann, and Dvorak compositions with Paul Roczek (violin) and Hamilton Berry (cello).
Melodies in March is “last but not least” at All Saints Episcopal Church (84-85 96th St., Woodhaven, price not specified) on March 5 at 7 pm.
In honor of upcoming Women’s History Month, Jackson Heights-based Percussia presents compositions by Victoria Bond, Angelica Negron, Marga Richter, Sima Wolf, Han Lash, and others. The performers are Ingrid Gordon (percussion), Susan Jolles (harp), and Margaret Lancaster (flute).
While rooted in the Classical tradition, Percussia incorporates other influences into its unique, signature sound, which is based on the melodic marriage of flute, viola, and harp.
Top image: Rob MacKay; middle image: Bayside Historical Society; bottom image: Percussia