Program Offerings

Roman Handel

Fiery and lyrical works by the young George Frideric Handel and several Italian contemporaries: a rediscovered flute concerto by Gasparini, rare cantatas by Lulier and Bononcini, and Handel’s passionate cantata Tu fedel, tu costante.

With guest soprano Kristen Watson

Hidden Treasures from the German Baroque

Rarely-heard quartets by Johann Gottlieb Janitsch, Christoph Graupner, Johann David Heinichen, and others, featuring the exotic and beguiling sounds of the chalumeau — a Baroque clarinet — and the Baroque bassoon, along with traverso, violin, viola, cello, and harpsichord.

With guest artists Owen Watkins, chalumeau, and Marilyn Boenau, bassoon

Music from Monticello

Chamber works played and collected by Thomas Jefferson and his family including a violin sonata by Corelli, a trio sonata by  Campioni, a flute sonata by Tessarini, harpsichord pieces by Balbastre, and songs by Maria Cosway and Francis Hopkinson.

With guest mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal

Bach and His Virtuosi    

“played with freshness and wit”  —Worcester Telegram

Vocal and instrumental works by outstanding musicians in Johann Sebastian Bach’s milieu, as well as a work composed by Bach that called upon the talents of virtuoso musicians in his circle. The program includes the cantata Quel vago seno of J.A. Hasse, the Concerto in D Major for flute, strings and continuo by Heinichen, a violin concerto by Pisendel, and Bach’s Concerto in D Minor for harpsichord and strings.

With guest mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal

Virtuosi Italiani

Brilliant vocal and instrumental works, including motets and cantatas for solo soprano and strings by Antonio Vivaldi, a flute concerto by Pietro Nardini, and string sinfonias and concertos by Giovanni Battista Sammartini and Pietro Locatelli.

With guest soprano Kristen Watson

Philadelphia Story

Classical sounds of early America are captured in this revelatory musical portrait of some of the United States’ first, fine composers who populated the lively and sophisticated music scene in Federal Philadelphia. Works by John Christopher Moller, Raynor Taylor, Alexander Reinagle, and others.

The Humanity and Humor of Mozart and Haydn

This program reveals the extraordinary emotional range of two great Classical masters. Includes Haydn’s Flute Quartet in D Major, op. 5 no. 1, his Piano Trio no. 30,  Mozart’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, and his chamber arrangement of Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 415.

From the Romantic Salon

A musical time capsule of delectable chamber works with guitar. The program includes works by Francesco Molino, I. A. Preis, Friedrich Burgmüller, and Nicolò Paganini, along with the Notturno D. 96 for flute, viola, cello, and guitar by Wenzel Matiegka, as arranged by Franz Schubert.

With guest guitarist Olav Chris Henriksen

Conversations Galantes: Music of the French Baroque

This sparkling program includes one of Rameau’s beloved Pièces de clavecin en concerts, Telemann’s Paris Quartet no. 6, a virtuoso quartet by
Louis-Gabriel Guillemain, and André Campra’s cantata Les Femmes.

With Laura Jeppessen, viola da gamba, and Aaron Engebreth, baritone