Sunday, October 4, 4 p.m.

DIALOGOS

Katarina Livljanic’, Director

Abbo Abbas

Dialogos returns to Music Before 1800 from France with a new program, “Abbo Abbas,” for four women’s voices. Director Katarina Livljanic’'s impassioned approach that links musicological research with a dramatic presentation brings to life the French and English music from c. 1000. This is the oldest extant European polyphony, from abbeys at Fleury sur Loire and Winchester.

Sunday, October 25, 4 p.m.

STILE ANTICO

Song of Songs

The youthful British singers of Stile Antico have sprung to the top of the early-music field. In addition to performing wordwide, they have already won prizes for their harmonia mundi CDs. Stile Antico toured with Sting as part of his Dowland project in 2007. Obviously, the program’s composers Palestrina, Lassus and Victoria loved setting the sultry, yet sanctioned Song of Songs.

Sunday, November 15, 4 p.m.

CAPPELLA ROMANA

Alexander Lingas, Director

Renaissance Encounters: Greek East and Latin West

Cappella Romana, the ten-voice ensemble form Portland, Oregon, has a unique mission—to explore and compare the vastly different musical traditions from the Orthodox East and the Roman Catholic West. “Renaissance Encounters” remains true to this ecumenical approach; the program contains Byzantine chant and Renaissance polyphony by Busnoys, Lassus, and others.

Alexander Lingas will give a pre-concert lecture, “Byzantium, Hellenic Music, and the Western Renaissance,” at 3:15 p.m. in the basement auditorium of Corpus Christi Church.

A question-and-answer session in the church will follow after the concert.

Sunday, December 20, 4 p.m.

ANONYMOUS 4

Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer,
Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek

The Cherry Tree: Songs, Carols and Ballads for Christmas

Anonymous 4 offers its newest program, “The Cherry Tree,” just a few days before Christmas, a refreshing change from the usual holiday fare. The Cherry Tree is a miracle ballad about Mary and Joseph found in both English medieval carols and American songs. Other music includes William Billings’s joyful fuging tune, Bethlehem, and medieval favorites such as Nowell synge we.

Sunday, January 24, 4 p.m.

CHOIR OF CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH

Louise Basbas, Director

Blow up the trumpet in Sion

The Choir of Corpus Christi Church, directed by Louise Basbas, is Music Before 1800’s resident ensemble. It is joined by Avi Stein, solo harpsichord and continuo organ; and Margaret Panofsky, viola da gamba. Diverse programming places eloquent anthems by Purcell (including Blow up the trumpet in Sion) alongside the monumental Stabat Mater of Domenico Scarlatti.

Sunday, February 7, 4 p.m.

JUILLIARD BAROQUE

Monica Huggett, Director and Violin

Historical Performance Program brings on Bach

Juilliard Baroque is comprised of the nine internationally recognized stars who make up the faculty of The Juilliard School’s new Historical Performance Program. Along with twelve of their gifted graduate students, they offer Brandenburg Concertos by J. S. Bach, and other works. This is your chance to hear the faculty and the emerging early-music players under their guidance.

Sunday, April 18, 4 p.m.

RECITAL: HÉLÈNE SCHMITT, VIOLIN (North American debut)

Partitas of J. S. Bach

Music Before 1800 presents the sensational French violinist Hélène Schmitt in her North American debut. A specialist in baroque chamber music, she has performed acclaimed concerts throughout Europe and in Japan and South America. Bach’s implied counterpoint is but one of the reasons to admire the magnificent solo Partitas, also recorded by Hélène Schmitt on ALPHA.

Sunday, May 2, 4 p.m.

POMERIUM

Alexander Blachly, Director

William Byrd: Catholic Composer in an Anglican Land

Pomerium returns to top off Music Before 1800’s 35th anniversary season that has featured many splendid vocal ensembles. Throughout his career, Byrd remained steadfastly Catholic in Anglican England despite the inconvenience and legal danger. By his immense talent, he won the protection of Queen Elizabeth and James I. Works are from the Cantiones Sacrae and Gradualia.

There will be a wine-and-cheese reception after the concert.