2025/26 Concert Season
Approaching a half century as the Bay Area’s portal for early music, The San Francisco Early Music Society’s 49th concert season, “Fertile Gardens,” showcases vibrant styles and traditions spanning nearly a millennium, celebrating the beauty and variety of historical musical styles in blossom and in full bloom. From the earliest written Medieval polyphonic music to the refined splendor of the high Renaissance—as well as virtuosic Baroque masterworks, the Classical period in Vienna, and living traditions with ancient roots beyond Europe—curious listeners and early music aficionados alike can experience the dazzling world of early music in ”Fertile Gardens.”
Discover the intimate combination of voice, portative organ, vielle, and percussion with Spanish ensemble Tasto Solo in “La Flor en Paradis — The New Musical Art in Europe, 1250-1350”, Oct. 10–12, exploring interactions between secular monody and religious works at the end of the Ars Antiqua.
Toronto’s Tafelmusik, directed by Rachel Podger, presents “Brilliant Baroque”, Nov. 6, featuring music by Bach, Handel, and Purcell. The UK vocal ensemble Stile Antico celebrates the 500th anniversary of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina in “The Prince of Music”, Nov. 13.
Sonoma’s acclaimed summer festival of classical and romantic music on period instruments will bring us Musicians from the Valley of the Moon Music Festival in a program of the first Viennese School with music by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven from Jan. 16–18.
Vajra Voices explores singing and prayer in “Aquitania to Appalachia”, Feb. 27–Mar. 1, bridging 11th-century polyphony with American traditions. Finally, Concerto Köln presents baroque works by Telemann, Bach, and Vivaldi, Mar. 14 & 15, and The Qadim Ensemble celebrates Middle Eastern heritage in “Wandering Dove”, Apr. 16, 18 & 19.