The Boston Early Music Festival is set to dazzle audiences by showcasing an astounding array of musical talent from December 2024 through June 2025. With events that celebrate the rich history of music, from Renaissance polyphony to Baroque masterpieces, attendees can anticipate performances by world-renowned ensembles and soloists. Highlights include The Tallis Scholars' exploration of chant and polyphony, Francesco Corti's harpsichord virtuosity, and the powerful narrative of Agave's debut. Each event promises a unique journey through time with music that has shaped our cultural landscape.

A Celebration of Musical Heritage: Boston Early Music Festival Events 2024-2025

The Boston Early Music Festival unfolds a rich tapestry of musical history in 2025, celebrating diverse eras and cultures through an impressive lineup of performances. From the virtuoso Francesco Corti's harpsichord and organ renditions to the poignant narratives of the Agave ensemble, these events explore a vibrant confluence of tradition and innovation. With highlights including the compelling voices of Stile Antico, the lively vigor of Les Arts Florissants, and Jordi Savall's historically informed interpretations, this series offers an unforgettable exploration of music's enduring legacy.

A Symphony of Time: The Boston Early Music Festival's Enriching Journey Through History

For a thousand years, plainchant represented the heart of Western “classical” music. The legendary voices of The Tallis Scholars revisit this living tradition with a transcendent celebration for the Christmas season. Director Peter Phillips leads his beloved ensemble in their 36th consecutive season performing for BEMF audiences with a journey through centuries of chant music and the polyphony constructed from it, from boundary-pushing chants composed by 12th-century abbess Hildegard von Bingen, to Renaissance works including chant-based motets such as Nunc dimittus by Lassus and Salve regina by Obrecht, Victoria, and Franco, to the medieval In dulci jubilo melody set by Praetorius and Pearsall, and to Arvo Pärt’s reconceptualizing of the chant tradition, inspired in part by Eastern Orthodox practices.

The Tallis Scholars

St. Paul's Parish

Join the singers, dancers, instrumentalists, and directors of the GRAMMY-winning BEMF Chamber Opera Series for a special presentation of two masterworks by Telemann. Enjoy a rare staged performance of Telemann’s lovely serenata, Don Quichotte auf der Hochzeit des Comacho, which sees Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza stumble upon the wedding of wealthy sheep rancher Comacho to the beautiful Quiteria—but her childhood sweetheart Basilio is ready to disrupt the festivities even if it’s the last thing he ever does! Woven throughout the entertainment will be movements from Telemann’s delightful orchestral suite Burlesque de Don Quichotte, a work that uses strikingly evocative music to depict various episodes from the classic novel by Cervantes.

EPSG:4326

Telemann’s Don Quichotte

New England Conservatory of Music

A Venetian Duel of Bows: Music of Vivaldi, Tartini, Veracini, and Locatelli

Venice Baroque Orchestra

Ein Deutsches Barockrequiem: Texts from the Brahms Requiem set by German Baroque masters

Vox Luminis

Join us for a one-of-a-kind event featuring the stunning virtuoso Francesco Corti performing a solo work for harpischord and joining with our own all-star BEMF Chamber Ensemble and director Robert Mealy to present two Organ Concertos by Handel on the magnificent Richards, Fowkes & Co. Opus 10 organ at Boston’s First Lutheran Church. Celebrating the biennial conference of the American Handel Society—February 6–9, 2025 in Boston—the program will showcase two selections (No. 1 and No. 4) from Handel’s innovative Opus 4, which first established the form of the organ concerto.

Francesco Corti, harpsichord & organ with the BEMF Chamber Ensemble

First Lutheran Church of Boston

Explore the turbulent crossroads of revolution, the rum industry, and the transatlantic slave trade in the Caribbean, South America, and Europe in a fascinating program with the San Francisco–based Agave in the string ensemble’s BEMF début alongside star countertenor Reginald Mobley. These GRAMMY-nominated collaborators explore works by Black British composer, rum merchant, and abolitionist Ignatius Sancho as well as Brazilian master José Mauricio Nuñes Garcia, grandson of sugar cane plantation slaves. Discover the unique and compelling voice of Cuban composer and music historian Esteban Salas and hear Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s setting of the earliest published text in Haitian Creole. From heartbreaking love songs to elegant chamber works and joyous expressions of faith, experience the music of a changing world through the eyes of composers whose stories are finally being told.

Agave

First Church in Cambridge

In this brilliant and vividly contrasted program, Stile Antico selects pieces from the ensemble’s award-winning discography to create a thrilling journey through some of the greatest music of the Renaissance. Renowned for their fresh, vibrant, and moving performances of Renaissance polyphony, join these accomplished singers as they celebrate their 20th anniversary and share this truly unique collection of some of their favorite pieces. Exuberant works by composers such as Byrd, Gibbons, Tomkins, and Praetorius rub shoulders with tranquil motets by Taverner, Clemens non Papa, and Tallis, as well as the alluring sounds of Huw Watkins’ virtuosic The Phoenix and the Turtle, written especially for the ensemble. Allegri’s timeless Miserere completes this mouthwatering program.

Stile Antico

Don’t miss a blockbuster musical event as one of Early Music’s definitive ensembles, Les Arts Florissants, are joined by the invigorating violin virtuoso Théotime Langlois de Swarte—hailed by Gramophone for his “seemingly effortless blend of control and abandon.” These incomparable instrumentalists commemorate the original publication of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in 1725. Experience this iconic masterwork anew as Vivaldi’s beloved concertos are presented alongside Venetian music that inspired the great composer—or was inspired by him—with selections by Monteverdi, Uccellini, Geminiani, and Corelli.

Les Arts Florissants

One of the most versatile musical personalities of his generation, Jordi Savall has thrilled millions of Early Music lovers around the world for over half a century. A tireless researcher and an eternally engaging performer, he made his Boston début with BEMF in 1989 and has remained a favorite and a friend ever since. Join him and his legendary ensemble Hespèrion XXI for a stunning journey through Baroque music from England, Peru, Mexico, Spain, and more.

Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI

Jubilate! Music of Lassus, Palestrina, Gombert, and Andrea Gabrieli

The Tallis Scholars & The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble

New England Conservatory

The Excellency of Wine: Songs of Love, Laughter, and Drinking by Dowland, Guédron, Moulinié and Henry Lawes.

Aaron Sheehan, tenor & Paul O’Dette, lute

Amor Temporalia: Music of Bertali, Schmelzer, Valentini and others.

Acronym

Music of Keiser, Handel, Bach and Telemann.

Ensemble Castor with Sherezade Panthaki, soprano

A Gallery of Kings: On the Uses and Abuses of Power, ca. 1300.

The Boston Camerata

Murder, Mayhem, Melancholy, and Madness: Music of Johnson, Dowland, William Lawes, Tomkins and Purcell.

Pacific Musicworks with Danielle Reutter-Harrah, soprano

Inspired by the Sistine Chapel: Music of Morales, Palestrina and Allegri.

Emmanuel Church Boston

Caritas abundant in omnia / Love abounds in everything: Music of Hildegard von Bingen and Leonel Power.

Trio Medieval with Catalina Vicens, organetto

Songs without words: Music of Palestrina, Victoria, Grandi, Gabrieli and Merulo.

Boston Early Music Festival

Feb 8, 2025

Francesco Corti, harpsichord & organ with the BEMF Chamber Ensemble

Feb 14, 2025

Agave

Mar 28, 2025

Stile Antico

Apr 4, 2025

Les Arts Florissants

Apr 13, 2025

Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI

Dec 6, 2024

The Tallis Scholars

Nov 30 - Dec 1, 2024

Telemann’s Don Quichotte

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