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NEW HAVEN >> There's a reason Orchestra New England's Colonial Concert is popular every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving: It's a trip. As in: back in time. And: entertaining. And: it starts the holiday season.
This year's astounding 35th edition with one conductor will be Saturday at 8 p.m. at historic United Church on the Green (Temple and Elm streets), and once again, it will reflect not only the Colonial look, clothing and authentic tone of the Revolutionary War era (such as announcements that you shouldn't overturn benches or let your children play among the orchestra) but also the deep experience and intellectual zeal of maestro James Sinclair.
"I haven't missed a concert ever," said Sinclair, a Charles Ives scholar. "I came close; I had a flu ... I mean, it took too much energy to hold my head up. And I gave up half the concert (to a backup)."
Otherwise, it's been all Sinclair - in his customary wig and 18th-century finery -- putting himself in the moment and "sending new things to the audience" -- new for Colonial times, that is. "The players (are) playing the latest Haydn symphony; there's no going back in history and playing old music. They didn't like Bach; it was too old already."
The concert principals will be attired fully in late 18th-century finery: "Men in shirts with ruffled cuffs, necked by jabots, plus waistcoats in a wide variety of colors and patterns, topped by a...