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Experience the evocative sounds of "The Hunting Horn: Handel, Couperin & Bach," a captivating concert by the Portland Baroque Orchestra. This performance features a rich blend of horn, oboe, violin, and harpsichord, taking the audience on a musical journey through the European countryside. The program opens with Stölzel’s Sonata, whose simplicity beautifully captures the essence of the outdoors. As the concert progresses, the complexity of the music intensifies with compositions by Telemann and Fasch, reflecting the excitement and intensity of the hunt. These pieces pay homage to the horn’s crucial role in signaling and guiding the pursuit. The concert also includes Handel’s Suite in D Major, arranged by Andrew Clark, Couperin’s Suite from the Concerts royaux, and Bach’s Sonata for violin and harpsichord in E Minor. Under the artistic direction of Julian Perkins and featuring Andrew Clark on the horn, this performance promises a vivid and dynamic exploration of baroque music, celebrating the spirited chase and the majestic sounds of the hunt.

A celebration of rebirth and renewal, from the much-loved “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, to the world premiere of Rhian Samuel’s Gwanwyn (the Welsh word for spring), commissioned by PBO in response to Vivaldi’s interpretation of the season. We also explore Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in G Minor, a ‘rebirth’ of one of his earlier works where the organic interplay of soloist and orchestra captures the nature of springtime.

The season of seasons closes by honoring the themes of light, love, and rebirth through acclaimed works by Pergolesi, Scarlatti, Bach, and Vivaldi. In Vivaldi’s “Summer,” the cuckoo, dove, and goldfinch sing in the blazing sun before the winds begin to blow. Following an homage to Scarlatti, including his Salve Regina in G Minor, we conclude with a work that he inspired; Pergolessi’s final masterpiece, Stabat Mater. Its dancing rhythms and decorative trills contrast effectively with the tender, passionate text sung by soprano Anna Dennis, rounding out the season with a sense of joy and hope.