Early Music Now Announces Our 31st Season

Following its record-breaking 30^th Anniversary Season, Early Music Now announces a new season with world-class ensembles eager to present their extraordinary Medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque programs. Reaching across borders and across time, the 31^st season includes a trio of Arabic musicians along with international artists from Belgium, Canada, England, France, and the Netherlands.

Early Music Now creates lively connections with the past through historically informed performances of music composed before 1800. International artists include three groups that are already well-known to Milwaukee audiences, and three new to this series (including one Midwest debut and one U.S. debut). The programming explores Spanish dance music, choral music from the Reformation, two centuries of Baroque chamber music from five countries, Christmas music from the Mediterranean, and music from a castle (sung by the choir that lives there!)

All six programs will be performed in landmark Milwaukee landmark venues at EMN’s popular time, Saturdays at 5:00 pm, with an extra Christmas concert on Sunday at 3:00 pm.

The season opens on October 21st at Grace Lutheran Church (1209 North Broadway) – an ideal venue for a concert celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The eight-voiced men’s ensemble Cappela Pratensis performs “Missa Lutherana: The Beginnings of Lutheran Church Music,” which includes chant as well as compositions by Heinrich Isaac and Adam Renner. (cappellapratensis.nl)

The long-awaited Midwest debut of the celebrated French ensemble, La Poème Harmonique, comes to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (914 East Knapp Street) on November 11th. Director Vincent Dumetre (guitar and theorbo) is joined by his ensemble of soprano, violin, viola da gamba, violone, and percussion in “Danza! Spanish Dances in 17th-Century France,” demonstrating how Spanish influences helped create a century of dance in France. (sempremusica.com)

Early Music Now has always been noted for providing unique alternatives to the usual Christmas concert fare. Continuing that tradition, America’s preeminent early music ensemble, The Boston Camerata, will be joined by SHARQ Arabic Music Ensemble for a program of music from the various coastal areas around the Mediterranean, spanning more than 700 years, all inspired by the Christmas story. “A Mediterranean Christmas” will be performed at St. Joseph Chapel, 1501 South Layton Boulevard at 5:00 on December 9 and 3:00 on December 10. (bostoncamerata.com – karimnagi.com/sharq)

Early Music Now returns to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on February 17th with a performance by a favorite of Milwaukee audiences, The Flanders Recorder Quartet (Belgium), on their farewell tour. “The Final Chapter: 30 Years,” represents the spectrum of old and new recorder music (including two new commissions) that has defined their signature style. (flanders-recorder-quartet.be)

Canada’s Ensemble Caprice returns to Milwaukee with an engaging approach to music of the Baroque. Their March 17 performance at the UWM Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts combines recorder duo, cello, guitar, and percussion to declare “iLove Baroque,” weaving together eight short stories with music covering two centuries and five countries. Music of Bach, Falconiero, Schmelzer, and Vivaldi. (ensemblecaprice.com)

This 31^st season concludes on April 14^th back at St. Joseph Chapel with a choir that has unique credentials! The Queen’s Six (England) live within the walls of Windsor Castle, where they regularly sing for the Royal Family. Established in 2008 (the 450^th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I), they come to us on their first American tour with the program “Sacred & Profane: Music of the Tudor and Jacobean Courts” which includes music of the notable “six” – composers from that earlier era – Byrd, Gibbons, Morley, Tallis, Tomkins, and Weelkes. (thequeenssix.com/uk)

Tickets are available as individual concerts or in full or partial season packages in two sections, with discounts for 4, 5 or 6-concert packages. Each full 6-concert subscription comes with a voucher for one free guest ticket.

Full 6-concert series packages for adults and seniors range in price from $147 to $207, with student series from $51 to $75. Partial series packages of 3, 4, or 5 programs range from $87 to $207 for adults and seniors, with student series ranging from $30 to $45 (for full-time students between 6 and 26 years of age). Individual adult/senior tickets range in price from $29 to $46 dollars, with student tickets ranging from $10 to $15. All prices include sales tax and all applicable fees. A 20% discount is available for groups of ten or more.

Tickets may be ordered by phone (414.225.3113), email (info@earlymusicnow.org), or regular mail (759 N. Milwaukee #420, Milwaukee 53202). A season brochure is available upon request.

Early Music Now, founded in 1986 by Thallis Hoyt Drake, is the only Wisconsin presenter to focus exclusively on historically informed, period instrument performances of music composed before 1800. Adding the tagline “Across Borders – Across Time,” EMN has also explored music from non-Western cultures.

Early Music Now is widely regarded in the world of early music as one of the most creative and successful organizations in the United States, enabling it to attract the very finest early music ensembles from around the world. In addition to presenting both established and emerging artists from the North American continent, EMN season programming has included performer/educators from Argentina, China, England, Cuba, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Scandinavia, and Spain.

For further information about Early Music Now, visit EarlyMusicNow.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.