Musicians of Ma'alwyck event has Halloween spin

The next time somebody claims that classical music concerts are boring, bring them to one of Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz's grand events. They'll come away with a new notion.

In the 20 years since she established the Musicians of Ma'alwyck, Barker Schwartz has presented thoughtful chamber music concerts in historic venues across the region, produced operas and collaborated with composers, painters, poets, dancers and theater artists. Looking back on such a rich legacy, it seems that what Schwartz is really doing is telling stories

Certainly there are some good stories being told in the upcoming anniversary season. Just consider what's in store with "Macabre Music" on Saturday at First Reformed Church in Schenectady. The ensemble will play a batch of new and classic works for the Halloween season, including Saint-Saens' "Dance Macabre" in a charming arrangement by William Carragan, plus a new work by Max Caplan, who's become the group's unofficial composer in residence.

This will be the sixth iteration of the popular "Macabre Music," and as usual with Barker Schwartz something new has been added. Actress Jessica Sims will weave together the musical selections with the sad tale from the late 1600s of Alice Van Der Veer. A daughter of Dutch settlers, Alice was caught with her lover sharing an intimate embrace in a garden. Her father shot the young sailor and dragged his hysterical daughter back home. An angry mob found the dead boy and then went after the Van Der Veers, burning them both at the stake. It's said that during the first full moon of the summer, Alice's ghost returns to Jackson's Garden on Union College campus.

"Getting into the historical aspect of music or putting on events at sites with historic ties, it opens up a lot of possibilities for narrative with local connections," says Barker Schwartz. "Music...