Chatting with Curious Flutist Emi Ferguson by Andrew J. Sammut, November 25, 2019 Flutist Emi Ferguson performing with the period ensemble Ruckus. (Photo by Cody Buchanan) The term “genre-defying” is often either advertisers’ gloss or purists’ anathema. Yet it’s a reality that Emi Ferguson lives everyday with utter authenticity — both musically and personally. Ferguson is principal flute of Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society and a frequent performer with several other period-instrument groups. She also plays regularly with contemporary-music ensembles, including American Modern Opera Company and the New York New Music Ensemble. In addition, Ferguson serves on the faculty at the Juilliard Scho
The first thing one noticed when Emi Ferguson entered Corpus Christi Church Sunday to play Bach flute sonatas was the size of her entourage. Typically, to perform a Baroque-era flute sonata, you need three players: the flutist, and a harpsichordist and a cellist to make up the “basso continuo,” which plays the bass line and fills in the harmonies. Those players did indeed enter with Ms. Ferguson. And so did players of the theorbo, Baroque guitar, bassoon, and double bass. As she began performing her arrangement of a Bach keyboard prelude, her six collaborators joined in, con brio, nearly drowning out her gentle-toned wooden flute with their ruckus. In this program, titled “Fly the Coop” and
CD Review: Fresh Take On Goldberg Variations by Andrew J. Sammut, November 4, 2019 Bach: Goldberg Variations. Repast Baroque Ensemble, with Emi Ferguson, flute. MSR Classics MS1661 This release is far from the first performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations arranged for chamber group and likely won’t be the last, but it will be a tough act to follow. New York’s Repast Baroque Ensemblecomprises violinist Amelia Roosevelt, cellist Katie Rietman, bassoonist Stephanie Corwin, and harpsichordist Gabe Shuford. Roosevelt explains that they always ask Emi Ferguson to join for any repertoire with flute, and it shows. These performances bubble over with the energy and warmth of a celebration for five
