Harmonia Early Music

Week of July 5

Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610: New, Old, and Now

Harmonia marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of Claudio Monteverdi’s “Marian Vespers” of 1610 with dynamic performances by Tragicomedia, Concerto Palatino, and the Magnificat Baroque Ensemble. Join us in an exploration of the Vespers: New, Old, and Now.

Week of July 12

Ramée Label Sampler

Harmonia explores recordings from the Ramée label, including composers Bononcini, Touchemoulin, and Gaultier, as well a look at Pomerium’s Old Hall label recording of Orlande de Lassus. The featured release is by the Norman/Greenberg duo performing music of Scotland and the baroque.

Week of July 19

World Premieres with the Koelner Akademie

Harmonia looks at world-premiere recordings of music by Mattheson and Fischer with the Koelner Akademie, in addition to exploring Byzantine chant with Greek-American singer John Michael Boyer. Paul O’Dette performs in a featured release of Renaissance lute music by Marco dall’Aquila.

Week of July 26

More Medieval Instruments

Harmonia continues its look at musical instruments from the Middle Ages, Baroque Oboist John Abberger talks about his chosen instrument, and a Private Musicke performs music of Spanish Renaissance composer Alonso Mudarra.

Week of August 2

Lucidarium: La Istoria de Purim

Harmonia explores music of the Jews in Renaissance Italy with Lucidarium, a special discovery in Leonard Bernstein’s record collection, and Telemann’s gypsy music with Ensemble Caprice.

Week of August 9

Anna Bon with La Donna Musicale

Harmonia looks at the music of 18th-century Italian composer Anna Bon with La Donna Musicale, soprano Carolyn Sampson and lutenist Matthew Wadsworth perform in “Not just Dowland,” and the British vocal ensemble Stile Antico explores church music of the English Renaissance.

Week of August 16

Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars

Peter Phillips joins Harmonia to talk about the Tallis Scholars’ recording “Lamentations of Jeremiah,” Gary Cooper leads the New Chamber Opera Ensemble in music from the Gresham Autograph, and L’Arpeggiata is featured in the release “Via Crucis.”

Week of August 23

Great Musicians: Paul O’Dette, lutenist

American lutenist Paul O’Dette joins Harmonia to talk about his recording of pieces by Marco dall’Aquila, Gregory Geehern directs the Indiana University Pro Arte ensemble in choral music of the Portuguese Renaissance, and Los Musicos de Su Alteza performs in a world-premiere recording of villancicos by Joseph Ruiz Samaniego.

Week of August 30

The Frottola and Renaissance Love

Harmonia explores themes of love found in the popular Renaissance song known as the frottola, Robert Green joins us to talk about the French Baroque hurdy-gurdy, and Nicholas McGegan directs in the world-premiere recording of a Mendelssohn arrangement of Handel’s Acis and Galatea.

Week of September 6

New Music/Early Music: The New Brandenburgs, pt. 1

Harmonia explores the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s commissions inspired by the Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach, a look at prominent countertenors from the 1990s, and Rolf Lislevand performs music of the Italian Renaissance in the featured recording “Diminutito.”

Week of September 13

The Mexican Baroque

A special Harmonia devoted to the baroque music of Mexico, including works by Gaspar Fernandes and Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, a brief look at the Jesús Sánchez Garza Collection of Spanish colonial manuscripts, and Lee Santana leads Ensemble Continuo in an unusual take on the guitar music of Santiago de Murcia.

Week of September 20

Handel’s Harp

Harmonia explores George Frideric Handel’s harp music with baroque harp virtuoso Maxine Eilander, the Toronto Consort performs works for Queen Elizabeth I, and More Hispano improvises on music from the Spanish and Italian Renaissance.

Week of September 27

Cançonièr and The Black Dragon

Harmonia explores medieval music from the time of Vlad Dracula with ensemble Cançonièr, Imagem da Melancolia performs works from the Portuguese Renaissance, and harpsichordist Robert Hill plays Bach’s viola da gamba sonatas on the lautenwerk with gambist Ekkehard Weber.