Cleveland area early music concert calendar

• October, 2011

  • Oct. 9, Sun. 3:30 pm, Gartner auditorium of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Jordi Saveall presents "Music dialogues from Orient and Occident." Savall will be performing on a lira da gamba from ca. 1500 and a seven string bass viol from 1697. He will be accompanied by his son Ferran Savall on theorbo and vocals. $41/$37, museum members $40/$36. For tickets see www.clevelandart.org/vivagala.

  • Oct. 13, Thurs., 7:30 pm, Fairlawn Lutheran Church, Fairlawn, OH. Apollo's Fire presents "Love and Rage," featuring Michael Maniaci, male soprano; Olivier Brault, violin; and Rene Schiffer, cello. Handel: Selections from Imeneo and Ariodante Vivaldi: Selections from Catone in Utica and Giustino Vivaldi: Concertos for Two Violins and Two Cellos "Handel and Vivaldi pulled out all the stops when writing for castrato singers -- the rock stars of the 18th century. This repertoire comes alive with pathos and fire in the sweet but powerful voice of Michael Maniaci. Duelling pairs of violins and cellos face off for the electrifying double concertos of Vivaldi." Tickets

  • Oct. 14, Fri., 8:00 pm, St. Paul's Epicopal Church, Cleveland Heights. Apollo's Fire presents "Love and Rage." See Oct. 13 listing for details.

  • October 14, Fri., 7:30 PM, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH. Cantores Cleveland presents Tudor England: Music in Times of Turmoil. This multi-disciplinary program will take you into the world of tudor icons Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and Elizabeth, along with the fits and starts of the new religious Anglican sect, and the bloody struggle between Roman and Anglican proponents during the Tudor reign. You also will meet our mystery host whose own drama will engage you as the program unfolds. Music by well known English composers including William Cornysh, John Taverner, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and even Henry VIII himself will be performed. You will have a unique opportunity to take a docent-led tour of Trinity Cathedral to examine its architecture and learn the story of its magnificent stained glass windows before the program. 6:15 - 7:30pm: Tudor Art Exhibit; 6:45 - 7:15pm: Docent-led Cathedral Tour; 7:30 - 9:15pm: Program; 9:20 - 10:00pm: Patrons' Private Reception featuring Tudor Period Foods and Drinks. General admission $10, Patron admission $25. Purchasers of patron tickets will have reserved seats as well as admission to the private reception. Tickets can be purchased online or by writing Cantores Cleveland, 24100 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH 44122

  • Oct. 16, Sun., 4:00 pm, Rocky River Presbyterian Church. Apollo's Fire presents "Love and Rage." See Oct. 13 listing for details.

  • Oct. 29, Sat., 7:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Quire Cleveland presents "Musick's Praier: The Glory of English Choral Music," with guest conductor Timothy Brown. The program features works by the early Renaissance composers John Taverner and Thomas Tallis, their successors William Byrd and Henry Purcell, Romantic favorites like Charles Villiers Stanford, and more recent masters like Ralph Vaughan Williams, Lennox Berkeley, and Giles Swayne (b.1946). Tickets: $20 adult; $10 senior (65+); $7 student (full-time). Free parking at Trinity Commons; nearby parking also available at Cleveland State University Lot SG (free with parking ticketed validated at Trinity).

• November, 2011

  • Nov. 5, Sat., 8 pm, William Busta Gallery, 2731 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Les Delices presents "The Age of Indulgence," recreating the opulent sound world of a 1750s Paris salon. (Scott Metcalfe & Julie Andrijkeski, baroque violin; Debra Nagy, baroque oboe; Emily Walhout, viola da gamba; Michael Sponseller, harpsichord) Ohio premieres include two quartets from Francois-Andre Philidor's 1755 L'art de la modulation, selections from Antoine Dauvergne's Concerts de simphonies (1751), and Jean-Joseph Cassanea de Mondonville's Op. 3 no. 1 sonata (1749). Rameau's beloved Pieces de Clavecin en concert no. 3 completes the program. Pre-concert lectures will highlight the significance of these works within their composers' social and cultural milieu. $20 general/$18 senior. Tickets.

  • Nov. 6, Sun., 4 pm, Herr Chapel at Plymouth Church, 2860 Coventry Rd., Shaker Heights. Les Delices presents "The Age of Indulgence." See Nov. 5 listing for details.

  • Nov. 9, Wed., 7:30 pm, Cleveland Museum of Art. Gregory Fulkerson presents the first half of J.S. Bach's Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Free, no ticket required. See www.ClevelandArt.org/VivaGala for details.

  • Nov. 16, Wed., 7:30 pm, Cleveland Museum of Art. Gregory Fulkerson presents the second half of J.S. Bach's Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Free, no ticket required. See www.ClevelandArt.org/VivaGala for details.

• December, 2012

  • Dec. 9, Fri., 8:00 P.M., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1250 W. Exchange St., Akron. Apollo's Fire, Jeannette Sorrell, music director, will present "Sacrum Mysterium (Sacred Mystery): A Celtic Christmas," featuring Meredith Hall (soprano), Steve Player (dancer/guitar), Apollo's Singers, and Ensemble LeNef of Montreal. Pre-concert lecture at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $60, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. Free for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Dec. 10, Sat., 8:00 P.M., First Baptist Church, 3630 Fairmount Blvd., Shaker Hts. Apollo's Fire will present "Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas." (See Dec. 9 listing for details.) Pre-concert lecture at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $70, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. $10 for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Dec. 11, Sun., 4:00 P.M., St. Christopher Church, 20141 Detroit Rd., Rocky River. Apollo's Fire will present "Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas." (See Dec. 9 listing for details.) Pre-concert lecture at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $70, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. $10 for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Dec. 11, Sun., 7:00 pm, Oberlin Conservatory Warner Concert Hall, 77 West College St., Oberlin. Community Sing-Along of the Messiah Featuring vocal soloists and string players from Oberlin Conservatory, the annual community sing-along will take place on Sunday, December 11 at 7:00pm in Warner Concert Hall. Free Admission. Donations will be accepted to benefit Lorain County Interfaith Hospitality Network.

  • Dec. 16, Fri., 8:00 P.M., Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Apollo's Fire will present "Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas." (See Dec. 9 listing for details.) Pre-concert lecture at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $70, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. $10 for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535

  • Dec. 17, Sat., 8:00 P.M., First Baptist Church, 3630 Fairmount Blvd., Shaker Hts. Apollo's Fire will present "Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas." (See Dec. 9 listing for details.) Pre-concert lecture at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $70, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. $10 for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Dec. 18, Sun., 4:00 P.M., St. Noel Church, 35200 Chardon Rd., Willoughby Hills. Apollo's Fire will present "Sacrum Mysterium: A Celtic Christmas." (See Dec. 9 listing for details.) Pre-concert lecture at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $25 to $60, with discounts for seniors 65+ and adults under 30. $10 for full-time students with ID. Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Dec. 22, Thurs., 7:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Quire Cleveland presents Carols for Quire from the Old and New Worlds (now in its third year). Celebrate music from the 13th to the 21st centuries. Medieval carols, Renaissance motets, plus songs from Slovenia, Finland, Spain, France, England, and America. This year's program also features the world premiere of a work by Jennifer Conner, of the Cleveland Composers Guild, who won the competition to have a piece performed and recorded by Quire.

  • Dec. 23, Fri., 7:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Quire Cleveland presents Carols for Quire from the Old and New Worlds. See previous listing for details.

• January, 2012

  • Jan. 22, Sun. 3pm, Frohring Recital Hall - Hiram College, Hiram, OH. Hiram College presents "The Bach Recital: Masterworks of J.S. Bach in Transcription" featuring Douglas Kelley, viola da gamba and Michael Sponseller, harpsichord. Throughout his busy career as teacher, choir director, performer and composer, Bach demonstrated a keen ability to rework compositions for varying instrumentation, sometimes in an effort to present material in a new light, and sometimes as a measure of practicality and frugality. This program features a series of works inspired by Bach's own transcriptions, relying on both the creative vision of the performers as well as 18th century sources. Free Admission Hiram music calendar Ensemble Florilege

  • Jan. 28, Sat., 8 pm, Tregoning and Co., 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland. Les Delices presents "Carateres de la Danse." "Simultaneously signaling power and grace, refinement and discipline, the art of dancing held a singular status at the court of Louis XIV. Music for dancing -- whether for the ballroom or the theater stage -- was likewise at the heart of French baroque style. Our program includes Rebel's 'Characters of the Dance' (a fantasia choreographed for a single virtuoso dancer), solo suites for oboe and viol by Hotteterre and Marais, and the earthy, rollicking dances of Boismortier's Ballets de Village. Plus, the Muse of dance herself inspires a trio sonata by Rebel, La Terpsichore. Featuring: Julie Andrijeski, baroque violin; Debra Nagy, baroque oboe; Josh Lee, viola da gamba; Michael Sponseller, harpsichord" $20 general/$18 senior. Tickets.

  • Jan. 29, Sun., 4 pm, Herr Chapel at Plymouth Church, 2860 Coventry Rd., Shaker Heights. Les Delices presents "Carateres de la Danse." See Jan. 28 listing for details.

• February, 2012

  • Feb. 1, Wed., 6:00 pm, Cleveland Museum of Art. The Case Baroque Ensembles will perform a gallery concert at the Cleveland Museum of Art, reprising their highly successful "Milk and Honey" program of 17th-century music. The concert precedes the Theatre of Voices performance at 7:30 in Gartner Auditorium. Free.

  • Feb. 8, Wed., 7:30 P.M., United Methodist Church of Chagrin Falls, 20 South Franklin St. Apollo's Fire presents "The Intimate Bach," a concert of works by J.S. Bach for unaccompanied solo instruments. Featured soloists and works are Oliver Brault (violin partitas), René Schiffer (cello suites), and Jeannette Sorrell (harpsichord toccatas). Pre-concert talk at 6:30 P.M. Tickets are $20-$58; discounted prices $26, $40 (seniors 65+/young adults under 30), $10 (full-time students with ID). Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Feb. 9, Thu., 7:30 P.M., Fairlawn Lutheran church, 3415 W. Market St. Apollo's Fire presents "The Intimate Bach." (See Feb. 8 listing for performers and works.) Pre-concert talk at 6:30 P.M. Tickets are $20-$58; discounted prices $26, $40 (seniors 65+/ young adults under 30), free (full-time students with ID). Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Feb. 10 & 11, Fri. & Sat., 8:00 P.M., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts. Apollo's Fire presents "The Intimate Bach." (See Feb. 8 listing for performers and works.) Pre-concert talk at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $20-$68; discounted prices $26, $40 (seniors 65+/young adults under 30), $10 (full-time students with ID). Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Feb. 12, Sun., 4:00 P.M., Rocky River Presbyterian Church, 21750 Detroit Rd. Apollo's Fire presents "The Intimate Bach." (See Feb. 8 listing for performers and works.) Pre-concert talk at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $20-$68; discounted prices $26, $40 (seniors 65+/young adults under 30), $10 (full-time students with ID). Tel. (216) 320-0012 or (800) 314-2535.

  • Feb. 12, Sun., 7:30 pm in Harkness Chapel, 11200 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland. Baroque violinist Christine Wilkinson will present her MA Lecture-Recital on French violin music of the early 18th century. Free.

  • Feb. 15, Wed., 8:00 pm in Finney Chapel, 90 North Professor Street, Oberlin, OH. The Tallis Scholars will perform a concert of late Renaissance music, including pieces by Gesualdo, Orlando di Lassus, Cipriano de Rore, Monteverdi, and others. $37 Public, $12 Students, $27 Seniors/OC Staff and Faculty. All tickets $3 more at the door. Tickets can be obtained through Oberlin College Central Ticket Service (CTS) at 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178 or at Oberlin's Central Ticket Service

• March, 2012

  • March 2, Fri., 7:30 pm, Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH. Cantores Cleveland presents "The Pleasure of Sweet Harmony," An evening of dramatically narrated music and art celebrating the emergence of beautiful early Renaissance harmony. They will perform music by Adam de la Halle, John Dunstable, Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume dy Fay, Gilles Binchois, and Josquin des Prez. Trinity's art gallery opens at 6:15 pm, and at 6:45, there is a docent-led tour of "Trinity Treasures." At 9:30 pm, Cantores Cleveland patrons are welcome to a reception featuring medieval sweets and drinks. General admission: $10, Patron admission: $25. Tickets are available at www.cantorescleveland.org.

  • March 3, Sat., 7:30 pm, The First Congregational Church of Hudson, 47 Aurora Street, Hudson, OH. Cantores Cleveland presents "The Pleasure of Sweet Harmony," An evening of dramatically narrated music and art celebrating the emergence of beautiful early Renaissance harmony. There is a soup supper at 6:30 pm, when the art gallery will also open. This concert is free.

  • March 11, Sun., 3pm, Tregoning & Co. Gallery (1300 W 78th St, Cleveland, OH). Les Delices reprises their acclaimed program "Myths & Allegories" in a special concert. All proceeds from the fundraiser-concert will support Les Délices' recording of Les Délices' second commercial recording. Les Délices first performed "Myths & Allegories" on their concert series in May 2011. Critics had an overwhelmingly positive response to this program, which weaves dramatic depictions of tales from Homer's Odyssey together with instrumental chamber music inspired by famous epic. Tickets ($75) for the March 11 Fundraiser-Concert are available at www.lesdelices.org.

• April, 2012

  • April 4, Wed., 7:30, Cleveland Museum of Art. Mahan Esfahani plays music by Byrd, J.S. Bach, Scarlatti, and Mel Powell, featuring keyboards from the museum's collection. Free, no ticket required. See www.ClevelandArt.org/VivaGala for details.

• May, 2012

  • May 12, Sat., 8 pm, William Busta Gallery, 2731 Prospect Ave., Cleveland. Les Delices presents "Games and Diversions," featuring Featuring: Ellen Hargis, soprano; Julie Andrijeski, baroque violin; Debra Nagy, baroque oboe; Emily Walhout, viola da gamba; Michael Sponseller, harpsichord. "Games & Diversions -- ranging from innocent to licentious -- occupy our attentions in this program inspired by gambling and gossip, and fueled by an obsession with chocolate, wine, and other exotic brews. Soprano Ellen Hargis joins Les Délices for excerpts from Charpentier's Plaisirs de Versailles and Bernier's delightful Coffee Cantata, while Marais depicts a game of badminton (Jeu de Volant), and Couperin teases out French foibles in his witty harpsichord suite, Folies Françoises." $20 general/$18 senior. Tickets.

  • May 13, Sun., 4 pm, Herr Chapel at Plymouth Church, 2860 Coventry Rd., Shaker Heights. Les Delices presents "Games & Diversions." See May 13 listing for details.