Fortas Chamber Music Concerts: Nelly’s New Harpsichord: Music from Mount Vernon

A man of many passions, George Washington was particularly fond of music. In 1793, he bought his granddaughter Eleanor “Nelly” Custis a one-of-a-kind harpsichord from London, and her performances would delight family and guests alike. Since 2016, Mount Vernon has been creating a replica of her harpsichord for modern scholars and audiences to experience this unparalleled instrument firsthand. To celebrate the replica’s completion, the esteemed harpsichordist Richard Egarr will play the instrument alongside soprano Rowan Pierce and theorbo player William Carter, highlighting a program of popular music from the time period and Nelly’s own song book.