Join iSing Silicon Valley—World Champions at the 2023 World Choir Games in Seoul, South Korea—as we debut the Festival in the South Bay with Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic Gloria. Experience this celebratory masterpiece performed by an elite treble choir, reminiscent of its original Venice setting. Alongside excerpts from their acclaimed album, "Love & Light" (rated five stars by BBC Music Magazine), this is a can’t-miss start to the Festival!

French composer and poet Guillaume de Machaut, a key figure in the Middle Ages, revolutionized music with his groundbreaking Messe de Nostre Dame, hailed as the "genesis of modern music" by the Los Angeles Times. This event blends Machaut's masterpiece with medieval minstrels' songs for an evening of artistry and dance. The Festival upholds its enduring bond with Chanticleer, an original SFEMS affiliate, and eagerly anticipates the return of Alkemie after their impressive SFEMS debut in 2022–23.

Join iSing Silicon Valley—World Champions at the 2023 World Choir Games in Seoul, South Korea—as we debut the Festival in the South Bay with Antonio Vivaldi’s iconic Gloria. Experience this celebratory masterpiece performed by an elite treble choir, reminiscent of its original Venice setting. Alongside excerpts from their acclaimed album, "Love & Light" (rated five stars by BBC Music Magazine), this will be a joyful encounter with the next generation of performers!

The enchanting viol captivated Henry VIII's court and became England's favored instrument for a century, gracing manors and humble homes alike. Known for its harmony with the human voice, the viol takes center stage in an afternoon of English Renaissance music. Renowned soprano Amanda Forsythe collaborates with Voice of the Viol in a captivating concert featuring compositions by William Byrd, John Dowland, and more. Expect a harmonious blend of voices and strings in this concert of pure musical harmony!

In 1321, poet Dante Alighieri passed away as Philippe de Vitry and Johannes de Muris introduced the ars nova, marking a century of musical creativity. La Fonte Musica makes their American debut in a program highlighting the vibrancy and imagination of the period. Follow Dante's journey in The Divine Comedy through music, experiencing the lamentations of Hell, the divine love of Purgatory, and the celestial melodies of Heaven with this exceptional medieval ensemble.

Alkemie presents a unique concert featuring 13th-century trouvère songs, dances, and motets, many of which have yet to be recorded The ensemble transcribed several pieces from original manuscripts. Following the troubadours' legacy, Northern French trouvères crafted enchanting vocal compositions in the 13th century, blending sacred and secular themes and offering mystical reflections on love and desire with recurring refrains that unify songs and texts, creating a rich tapestry of public and private adoration.

During the 18th century, women-led salons in Paris were hubs of cultural innovation. Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy hosted a renowned salon from the late 1760s to the French Revolution, attracting composers like Johann Schobert and Luigi Boccherini. Despite never performing or publishing music publicly, she gained recognition as a talented composer and host. Benjamin Franklin frequented her salons, referring to them as "my Opera." Join us for this special event, with scholars Matthew Dirst and Annette Richards offering insightful musical commentary on Brillon de Jouy's influential salon culture.

Early music enthusiasts are familiar with the challenges of transporting and tuning harpsichords. Coordinating these tasks for one instrument is complex, let alone for two, three, or four harpsichords. This salon highlights two rare Baroque works for four harpsichords: Johann Sebastian Bach's renowned adaptation of Antonio Vivaldi's concerto for four violins (RV 580) and Georg Christoph Wagenseil's concerto for four harpsichords, a unique composition without orchestral accompaniment. Scholars Matthew Dirst and Annette Richards will offer musical insights at this unmissable event showcasing these extravagant pieces.

Known for his diverse and widely imitated works, Antonio Zacara da Teramo (ca. 1360–1416) was a significant composer straddling the Middle Ages and Renaissance, In “Enigma Fortuna,” celebrate medieval ensemble La Fonte Musica celebrates his vibrant and unconventional music, offering a glimpse into his world of enigmatic themes and oracles. Delve into the intricate variations on Fortune, infused with sarcasm, irony, and self-deprecation, showcasing the vitality and eccentricity of Zacara da Teramo's compositions through the lens of one of his modern advocates.

Georg Philipp Telemann, a musical cosmopolitan, aimed to blend French and Italian styles in his compositions. Prior to his delayed Paris visit in 1737, he gifted six "quartets" to his intended hosts in 1730, including renowned musicians like Michel Blavet and Jean-Pierre Guignon. These works, followed by another six quartets upon his actual arrival and collectively known as the "Paris" Quartets, showcase Telemann's melodic creativity and intricate textures. Audiences have been captivated by the charm and innovation of these twelve quartets, reflecting Telemann's pursuit of musical unity across national styles.

In 1504, Jacob Obrecht, renowned polyphonist, journeyed from Flanders to Ferrara, becoming the composer for Duke Ercole d'Este. Influenced by the German devotional song "Maria zart," he composed his masterpiece, the Missa Maria zart. This mass, a pinnacle of the flamboyant Gothic style, showcases Obrecht's brilliance and zest for life. It stands as the longest mass in the Renaissance repertoire, lasting over an hour. Sadly, Obrecht passed away from the plague just a year later, making this mass his musical legacy and testament.

For the first time in the group’s history, the Cantata Collective is performing an all-Bach instrumental program! Join us for a night featuring several Brandenburg concerti, as well as concertos for various instruments.

Experience a Hindustani classical music showcase with a unique evening raga selected for the audience, embodying specific musical rules and emotions. The performance will feature four main sections: Alap, Jor, Jhala, and Gat. In the rich tradition of North Indian Classical Music, known for its intricate compositions and rules, this improvisational performance will explore the nuances of Raga and Tala. Mastery in this art form, developed over a lifetime, allows for high-level improvisation, creating a captivating musical journey for the audience.

Take a break from concert attending and bask in the late afternoon sun (with shade) while enjoying some guqin music curated by David Wong and his San Francisco-based Tranquil Resonance Studio, while sipping several varieties of Chinese tea.

Join us for a smile-inducing program of arias and virtuoso concertos by George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi! Soloists include soprano Amanda Forsythe, recorder player Hanneke van Proosdij, and Baroque violinist Augusta McKay Lodge.

The Farallon Recorder Quartet reimagines the music of Guillaume Dufay, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Johann Sebastian Bach, bridging earthly depths and celestial heights. Through a blend of recorders in various sizes, the quartet captures the power of organs and the harmony of angelic voices, transitioning between virtuosic riffs and contemplative sonorities. This unique fusion of sounds evokes a journey from the richness of the earth to the ethereal realms of the heavens, showcasing a diverse range of musical expressions and emotions.

In the era of Spanish colonialism in South America (16th–19th centuries), music was pivotal to conquest and evangelization. The Chiquitos and Moxos archives in Bolivia, contain extensive collections of Renaissance and Baroque music. These archives reflect the vibrant musical culture of Jesuit and Franciscan missions during colonial times, highlighting the significant role of music in religious missions and cultural exchange in South America.

The House of Habsburg (1273–1916) was renowned for their patronage of the arts. Parthenia, a dynamic viol consort, presents a captivating program delving into music from the late 15th and 16th centuries—the pinnacle of the dynasty's influence—as well as later compositions for the Austrian Habsburg court. This exploration offers insight into the musical legacy of the powerful and enduring Habsburg dynasty, showcasing compositions that reflect their prestige and cultural impact over centuries.

Around 500 years ago, the Western music scene mourned the loss of Josquin Desprez (1521) and Jean Mouton (1522). Although unconfirmed, evidence suggests a significant link between them, possibly as teacher and pupil. In "Canons of Beauty," intricate intellectual depth is veiled by enchanting harmony. This work features ethereal mass movements, motets, and chansons crafted from canonic puzzles, where voices are implied rather than written, challenging singers to unravel the musical intricacies hidden within the compositions.

In the early 17th century, people across England, regardless of social status, delved into occult practices like alchemy, Cabala, spells, and witchcraft. "Shadow of Night" by Severall Friends offers a glimpse into Elizabethan occult traditions through readings and music. The event delves into the magical beliefs of the era, encompassing mystical music, creative melancholy, fairy lore, seances, and Cabalistic rituals. Each element carries a captivating allure—but beware of their addictive essence!

Trío Guadalevín explores the musical dialogue between Indigenous, European, and African cultures that define Latin American identity. With memorable stories and an incredible array of instruments from the Americas, Africa, and Europe, the trio weaves together a tapestry of music, languages, culture, history, and geography. They move seamlessly between the past and present, employing a mix of contemporary, folkloric, and historic melodies sung in Spanish, Zapotec, and Ladino, which ride on rhythms from Afro-Mexican son jarocho to Arab-Andalusi melodies, Sephardic lullabyes and Moroccan shabia.

Join us for a celebratory Festival finale as the Farallon Recorder Quartet and Parthenia Viol Consort explore works old and new—a program that could only come together at a Festival like this! Revel in the revolutionary shifts of Western music around 1600, as well as indulge in contemporary works for viol and recorder that showcase the bright future of early music and historically informed performance.

This exceptional program embodies the spirit of the Festival, combining traditional and contemporary pieces in a celebration of musical diversity and innovation.