Agostino Steffani’s Orlando

For all of the proud riches of this great city, a lot of Bostonians don’t realize the extent to which the Bean is something of a Mecca for early music. Since its renaissance in the 1970’s, early music has found a home here unlike anywhere else in the nation — and that is in no small part due to the transformational success of The Boston Early Music Festival, now in its 39th year and recognized by The Times in London as “the world’s leading festival of early music.”

And! It started this past Sunday and it goes until this next Sunday. And! They’ve made a whole slew of their performances available to us through a series of Nights Out! So, without much further ado:

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 8PM, Jordan Hall
Medieval Ensemble Sequentia treats us to
Charms, Riddles, and Elegies of the Medieval Northlands (8th–11th centuries). They’ll conjure sounds from a millennial past and more — songs of magic, healing, and exile — from haunting pagan laments to mystical celebrations, and mythical legends. $20 tickets down from $40! SALES CLOSE TUESDAY AT 8PM.

Friday, June 14, 2019 at 7pm, Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
BEMF bring’s us Agostino Steffani’s 1691 masterpiece opera Orlando. A North American premier, the fully-staged performance is the tale of the knight Orlando, who travels to China in search of a Princess. You can check the vibe here; it’ll be a wild ride. $20 tickets, down from $80!
SALES CLOSE THURSDAY AT 7PM.

Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 2:30PM, Jordan Hall
Doulce Mémoire, a brilliant troupe of 12 singers, dancers, and instrumentalists take us to 16th-century Frances and the court of King Francis I, to evoke the spirit of that era - with elaborate costumes, country dances, stately celebrations, and carnivalesque humor. $20 tickets, down from $40! SALES CLOSE FRIDAY AT 2.30PM.

Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 12:30PM, Jordan Hall
Stefan Temmingh on recorder and Wiebke Weidanz on harpsichord share a performance entitled Criminals, Murderers, Borderliners: Music by Leclair, Veracini, Mealli, and Bach — all works by great early composers who found themselves on the wrong side of luck or the law. J.S. Bach himself spent time in prison, and he’s sure to make an appearance. $20 tickets, down from $40! SALES CLOSE SATURDAY AT 12.30PM.

We so hope you make it to one or some of these and so many thanks to BEMF for playing such a foundational role in rebirthing this eternal music — and for bringing us along for the ride!

Have great Nights Out!

What's the music?

Boston Early Music Festival

Attendees

Ann M.

+1

Violette P.

+1

Alexandra S.

Erin S.

+3

Judith C.

+1

Elliot G.

+1

April @ Sculpted Culture Studio

Stephanie S.

+1

John S.