A Vegetative Bachanalia

Berkshire Bach opens its 22nd season with an unusual recital for harpsichord and flute titled “Venus Flytrap.” The name refers to a movement of an original work by the composer Victoria Bond for solo harpsichord called “Peculiar Plants,” to be performed by harpsichordist and Berkshire Bach music director Kenneth Cooper. “I composed ‘Peculiar Plants’ for Kenneth Cooper as a contemporary interpretation of the Baroque suite,” Bond writes. “Instead of each movement representing human characters or their dances, I chose plants with unusual characteristics.” The first movement, for example, is “Strangler Fig.” Each plant is introduced by a brief, humorous poem, written by Cooper and the composer, who will read them at the concert. Bond’s music is kinetic and expressive, and the readings make it sound a bit like “The Carnival of the Animals,” except with plants. Flutist Carol Wincenc joins Cooper for the opening work, a sonata by 18th-century Italian composer Giovanni Platti, as well as for the Bach Sonata in B minor for flute and harpsichord obbligato (BWV 1030). Wincenc will also play flute solos by Debussy, Joan Tower and others, and the program closes with “Romania!” composed by Daniel Paget for Cooper and Wincenc, described as “a whirlwind of excitement based on traditional Romanian folk tunes.” This looks like a very refreshing and interesting lineup for an opening concert. It takes place at the First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, MA, on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m.Tickets are $30 ($25 for members) and are available at Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com) or by calling 800-838-3006. Information can also be found at www.berkshirebach.org.