TWELFTH NIGHT
Described as “an absolute gift to see live” (The Nevada Sagebrush), Twelfth Night is a refreshingly new ensemble of historical performance specialists led by keyboardist David Belkovski and violinist Rachell Ellen Wong, formed with the firm belief that art is best explored as a meeting place of the past, present, and future.
"The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there."
– L. P. Hartley
Inspired by Shakespeare’s play of the same name, the ensemble strives to invoke a spirit of boundless revelry, celebration, and community in their programming. Based in New York City and founded in 2021, the two directors are regarded as key young representatives of early music: Rachell is the only baroque artist to receive an Avery Fisher Career Grant and David is the first recipient in the field of early music to receive the Levinson Arts Achievement Award. In the 2022-23 season, Twelfth Night was hosted in concert series across the country, including Arizona Early Music (Tucson), Chatham Baroque (Pittsburgh), Chamberfest Brown County (Nashville, IN), Music Before 1800 (NYC), and Apex Concert Series (Reno). This year, they were the only historical performance ensemble to be featured at Chamber Music America’s national conference showcase. In addition, David and Rachell make their debut co-directing New World Symphony in Miami. Further 2023-24 concerts include works of chamber music with fortepiano in Washington state, recitals for Early Music Seattle and the Heifetz International Music Institute, and an appearance on the Chamber Music Society of Logan (Utah) series.
Twelfth Night debuts at Carnegie Hall in May 2024 with their most ambitious project yet, a night of orchestral and operatic masterworks throughout the Baroque.
David and Rachell met during their time as students in the Historical Performance division of The Juilliard School. Endless hours rehearsing and performing together confirmed a special chemistry and shared vision, inspiring them to dream up an ensemble for the 21st century. Through Twelfth Night, they are eager to position historical performance as an integral part of all performance.