Friday, April 4
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at 300
Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin
Don’t miss a blockbuster musical event as one of Early Music’s definitive ensembles, Les Arts Florissants, are joined by the invigorating violin virtuoso Théotime Langlois de Swarte—hailed by Gramophone for his “seemingly effortless blend of control and abandon.” These incomparable instrumentalists commemorate the original publication of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in 1725. Experience this iconic masterwork anew as Vivaldi’s beloved concertos are presented alongside Venetian music that inspired the great composer—or was inspired by him—with selections by Monteverdi, Uccellini, Geminiani, and Corelli.
8pm - NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
VIRTUAL PREMIERE: Friday, April 18, 2025 at 8pm (ET)
Available to watch until May 2, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET)
https://bemf.org/concert-season/les-arts-florissants/
Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin
Don’t miss a blockbuster musical event as one of Early Music’s definitive ensembles, Les Arts Florissants, are joined by the invigorating violin virtuoso Théotime Langlois de Swarte—hailed by Gramophone for his “seemingly effortless blend of control and abandon.” These incomparable instrumentalists commemorate the original publication of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in 1725. Experience this iconic masterwork anew as Vivaldi’s beloved concertos are presented alongside Venetian music that inspired the great composer—or was inspired by him—with selections by Monteverdi, Uccellini, Geminiani, and Corelli.
8pm - NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
VIRTUAL PREMIERE: Friday, April 18, 2025 at 8pm (ET)
Available to watch until May 2, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET)
https://bemf.org/concert-season/les-arts-florissants/
Saturday, April 5
Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
Upper Valley Baroque with Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Handel’s masterwork—a dramatic setting of texts inspired by John Milton and William Shakespeare—explores joyful, sad, and “moderate” musings. In English, featuring renowned soprano Amanda Forsythe.
3pm - Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph VT
https://www.uppervalleybaroque.org/concerts/
Upper Valley Baroque with Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Handel’s masterwork—a dramatic setting of texts inspired by John Milton and William Shakespeare—explores joyful, sad, and “moderate” musings. In English, featuring renowned soprano Amanda Forsythe.
3pm - Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph VT
https://www.uppervalleybaroque.org/concerts/
Italian Classical Women Composers
La Donna Musicale: Lina Sarmiento, soprano; Daniela Tosic, mezzo-soprano; Fausto Miro, tenor; Danilo Bonina, violin; Amelia Sie, violin; Hanbyeol Lee, harpsichord; Nathaniel Chase, bass; Laury Gutierrez, viola da gamba
This program presents music by Italian 18th-century women composers working at the courts of Frederick the Great in Prussia and the House of Habsburg in Austria. These powerful monarchies sponsored both salon and stage, where passions ran high and the best musicians were hired. The harpsichord concerto in G minor by Frederick the Great’s sister Wilhelmine of Prussia and the Divertimento and soprano aria "Astra coeli iam intonate" by Anna Bon are pitted in our concert against the Habsburg-sponsored Camilla de Rossi, with excerpts from her oratorio "Santa Beatrice d’Este", and Maria Teresa Agnesi’s harpsichord concerto and excerpts from her opera "Ulisse in Campania". We conclude with an aria by Maria Antonia Walpurgis from her opera "Il trionfo della fedeltà".
3:30pm - Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St. Boston, MA
$35 Reserved, $20 General, $5 Low income
https://ladm.org/passionate-enemies/
La Donna Musicale: Lina Sarmiento, soprano; Daniela Tosic, mezzo-soprano; Fausto Miro, tenor; Danilo Bonina, violin; Amelia Sie, violin; Hanbyeol Lee, harpsichord; Nathaniel Chase, bass; Laury Gutierrez, viola da gamba
This program presents music by Italian 18th-century women composers working at the courts of Frederick the Great in Prussia and the House of Habsburg in Austria. These powerful monarchies sponsored both salon and stage, where passions ran high and the best musicians were hired. The harpsichord concerto in G minor by Frederick the Great’s sister Wilhelmine of Prussia and the Divertimento and soprano aria "Astra coeli iam intonate" by Anna Bon are pitted in our concert against the Habsburg-sponsored Camilla de Rossi, with excerpts from her oratorio "Santa Beatrice d’Este", and Maria Teresa Agnesi’s harpsichord concerto and excerpts from her opera "Ulisse in Campania". We conclude with an aria by Maria Antonia Walpurgis from her opera "Il trionfo della fedeltà".
3:30pm - Church of the Covenant, 67 Newbury St. Boston, MA
$35 Reserved, $20 General, $5 Low income
https://ladm.org/passionate-enemies/
Song of Songs / Songs of love
Blue Heron (Scott Metcalfe, director) Daniel Fridley, Paul Guttry, Corey Dalton Hart, Kim Leeds, Jason McStoots, Sophie Michaux, James Reese, Margot Rood, Sumner Thompson, Louise Treitman, voices; Ohad Ashkenazi, Bella Cadena, actors
Two actors join Blue Heron’s singers for a revised version of a dramatic program last performed in 2012: sacred polyphony setting texts from the Song of Songs, Spanish love songs, and poetry in Spanish and Hebrew.
8pm - First Church Congregational - 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA
Tickets $10-$90
https://www.blueheron.org/
Blue Heron (Scott Metcalfe, director) Daniel Fridley, Paul Guttry, Corey Dalton Hart, Kim Leeds, Jason McStoots, Sophie Michaux, James Reese, Margot Rood, Sumner Thompson, Louise Treitman, voices; Ohad Ashkenazi, Bella Cadena, actors
Two actors join Blue Heron’s singers for a revised version of a dramatic program last performed in 2012: sacred polyphony setting texts from the Song of Songs, Spanish love songs, and poetry in Spanish and Hebrew.
8pm - First Church Congregational - 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA
Tickets $10-$90
https://www.blueheron.org/
Sunday, April 6
Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
Upper Valley Baroque with Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Handel’s masterwork—a dramatic setting of texts inspired by John Milton and William Shakespeare—explores joyful, sad, and “moderate” musings. In English, featuring renowned soprano Amanda Forsythe.
3pm - Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH
https://www.uppervalleybaroque.org/concerts/
Upper Valley Baroque with Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Handel’s masterwork—a dramatic setting of texts inspired by John Milton and William Shakespeare—explores joyful, sad, and “moderate” musings. In English, featuring renowned soprano Amanda Forsythe.
3pm - Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH
https://www.uppervalleybaroque.org/concerts/
Saturday, April 12
A Musical Feast: Chamber Music of J.S. Bach
Les Bostonades: Sarah Darling, violin, Jason Fisher, viola, Emily Walhout, viola da gamba, Akiko Sato, harpsichord
In contrast to the large-scale concertos of J. S. Bach that Les Bostonades performed last season, this concert will feature his chamber music, including arrangements of his trio sonatas and sonatas for violin or viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord.
7:30pm - Lindsey Chapel at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston, MA
https://www.bostonades.org/concerts
Les Bostonades: Sarah Darling, violin, Jason Fisher, viola, Emily Walhout, viola da gamba, Akiko Sato, harpsichord
In contrast to the large-scale concertos of J. S. Bach that Les Bostonades performed last season, this concert will feature his chamber music, including arrangements of his trio sonatas and sonatas for violin or viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord.
7:30pm - Lindsey Chapel at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston, MA
https://www.bostonades.org/concerts
Sunday, April 13
Music of Fire and Love: An eclectic program of folías, variations, and improvisations
Hespèrion XXI: Xavier Díaz-Latorre, vihuela, theorbo & guitar; Andrew Lawrence-King, arpa doppia; Marco Vitale, harpsichord; Xavier Puertas, violone; David Mayoral, percussion; Jordi Savall, Director & treble and bass viols
One of the most versatile musical personalities of his generation, Jordi Savall has thrilled millions of Early Music lovers around the world for over half a century. A tireless researcher and an eternally engaging performer, he made his Boston début with BEMF in 1989 and has remained a favorite and a friend ever since. Join him and his legendary ensemble Hespèrion XXI for a stunning journey through Baroque music from England, Peru, Mexico, Spain, and more.
3pm - NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
VIRTUAL PREMIERE: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 8pm (ET)
Available to watch until May 11, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET)
https://bemf.org/concert-season/jordi-savall/
Hespèrion XXI: Xavier Díaz-Latorre, vihuela, theorbo & guitar; Andrew Lawrence-King, arpa doppia; Marco Vitale, harpsichord; Xavier Puertas, violone; David Mayoral, percussion; Jordi Savall, Director & treble and bass viols
One of the most versatile musical personalities of his generation, Jordi Savall has thrilled millions of Early Music lovers around the world for over half a century. A tireless researcher and an eternally engaging performer, he made his Boston début with BEMF in 1989 and has remained a favorite and a friend ever since. Join him and his legendary ensemble Hespèrion XXI for a stunning journey through Baroque music from England, Peru, Mexico, Spain, and more.
3pm - NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
VIRTUAL PREMIERE: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 8pm (ET)
Available to watch until May 11, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET)
https://bemf.org/concert-season/jordi-savall/
Sunday, April 20
Easter Service
Choir of First Lutheran (Jonathan Wessler, director, organ) with Karen Burciaga, Guinevere Fridley, Joy Grimes, Carol Lewis, James Perretta, Michael Sponseller, violas da gamba
Works for voices and viols by Byrd, Schütz, and Buxtehude, and hymns.
8am - First Lutheran Church, 299 Berkeley St. Boston, MA
https://flc-boston.org/
Choir of First Lutheran (Jonathan Wessler, director, organ) with Karen Burciaga, Guinevere Fridley, Joy Grimes, Carol Lewis, James Perretta, Michael Sponseller, violas da gamba
Works for voices and viols by Byrd, Schütz, and Buxtehude, and hymns.
8am - First Lutheran Church, 299 Berkeley St. Boston, MA
https://flc-boston.org/
Easter Service
Choir of First Lutheran (Jonathan Wessler, director, organ) with Karen Burciaga, Guinevere Fridley, Joy Grimes, Carol Lewis, James Perretta, Michael Sponseller, violas da gamba
Works for voices and viols by Byrd, Schütz, and Buxtehude, and hymns.
11am - First Lutheran Church, 299 Berkeley St. Boston, MA
https://flc-boston.org/
Choir of First Lutheran (Jonathan Wessler, director, organ) with Karen Burciaga, Guinevere Fridley, Joy Grimes, Carol Lewis, James Perretta, Michael Sponseller, violas da gamba
Works for voices and viols by Byrd, Schütz, and Buxtehude, and hymns.
11am - First Lutheran Church, 299 Berkeley St. Boston, MA
https://flc-boston.org/
Saturday, April 26
VdGSNE Spring Workshop: Music of John Dowland
Carol Lewis and Chris Henriksen, directors; Karen Burciaga, Sarah Mead, James Perretta, viols; Matthew Wright, lute
Our spring in-person workshop focuses on the music of famed and melancholy English expatriate John Dowland.
9:30am-4:30pm - St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Lincoln, MA
$80 members / $100 nonmembers. Reduced fee available for those in need, contact Treasurer to inquire.
Introduction to the Viol $25. We will also offer Ensemble Skills classes if there is enough interest.
https://vdgsne.org/ Registration opens in March.
Carol Lewis and Chris Henriksen, directors; Karen Burciaga, Sarah Mead, James Perretta, viols; Matthew Wright, lute
Our spring in-person workshop focuses on the music of famed and melancholy English expatriate John Dowland.
9:30am-4:30pm - St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Lincoln, MA
$80 members / $100 nonmembers. Reduced fee available for those in need, contact Treasurer to inquire.
Introduction to the Viol $25. We will also offer Ensemble Skills classes if there is enough interest.
https://vdgsne.org/ Registration opens in March.
Sunday, April 27
Fantasies for Consort and Keyboard
Newton Baroque: Sarah Mead, Emily Walhout, Jane Hershey, Laura Jeppesen, Karen Burciaga, Douglas Kelley, viols; Andrus Madsen, director, organ
Fantasies for Consort and Keyboard: Fantasies and In Nomines from early 17th Century England played by viol consort and or organ. Featuring the beautiful copy of an English Baroque organ at St Elizabeth’s Church in Sudbury.
4pm - St Elizabeth's Church, 1 Morse Rd., Sudbury
Newton Baroque: Sarah Mead, Emily Walhout, Jane Hershey, Laura Jeppesen, Karen Burciaga, Douglas Kelley, viols; Andrus Madsen, director, organ
Fantasies for Consort and Keyboard: Fantasies and In Nomines from early 17th Century England played by viol consort and or organ. Featuring the beautiful copy of an English Baroque organ at St Elizabeth’s Church in Sudbury.
4pm - St Elizabeth's Church, 1 Morse Rd., Sudbury