Handel & Hadyn conductor Jaap ter Linden.
Photo courtesy of Handel & Hadyn.

By Jonathan Kim

The jovial Jaap ter Linden seemed to win the Fenway crowd in his first appearance with the Handel and Hadyn orchestra.

Roughly a hundred attended the intimate concert at Jordan Hall. The small orchestra, clustered together in the soft light of the golden lighted stage sounded magnificent in what Linden called one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world.

I had a wonderful time, despite being grossly underdressed and without a date, and can say that at this particular concert, sitting closer to the stage is absolutely worth the added cost. The strings projected quite loudly, but you had to be quite close to truly appreciate the oboe and bassoon players.

Concertmaster Daniel Stepner, first chair violin, delivered a spectacular performance. He and Linda Quan, second chair, exuded a chemistry of playfulness in the movements that they shared.

A Baroque Gift will be played again tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in Jordan Hall. Tickets can be purchased online or through the Jordan Hall Box Office at 617-585-1260.

The Program:

1. Concerto Grosso in C Major, op. 3 no. 12, “Christmas Concerto” — Francesco Manfredini
2. Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major, op. 3 no. 2 — George Frideric Handel
3. Armonico Tributo, Sonata V in G Major — Georg Muffat
4. Suite (Overture) no. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 — J.S. Bach
5. Concerto Grosso, op.6 no.8 G Minor, “Christmas Concerto” — Arcangelo Corelli