Although almost exact contemporaries, the lives of Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti couldn’t have been more different. Tonight, young French harpsichordist Jean Rondeau presents a program of works by Bach and Scarlatti, as well as encores by François Couperin, on the 1737 Christian Zell harpischord, only one of three Zell harpsichords remaining, held in Barcelona’s Museu de la Música. …

Taking its name from the French Renaissance composer of chansons, The French early music Ensemble Clément Janequin presents a program of 15th- and 16th-century chansons. Lutenist Eric Bellocq joins the male a capella ensemble for this recital recorded live in concert in the Knight’s Hall of the Moravský Krumlov Castle, as part of the Concentus Moraviae Festival.

This evening’s program paints a colorful portrait of the great age of polyphony, dominated by Franco-Flemish composers between 1450 and 1600. From generation to generation, the style, which they developed, became the musical language of Europe. The Huelgas Ensemble’s diverse program of secular and sacred music provides a fine primer to the astonishing cultural sphere. Recorded live in concert June …

“Where words leave off, music begins,” A celebration of the mastery of English composers from Dowland to Arne and settings of words to music. Soprano Carolyn Sampson is joined by the Academy of Ancient Music, under the direction of Richard Egarr, who also performs on harpsichord and organ. This special 90-minute edition of Baroque&Before was recorded live in concert November …

Gothic Voices presents works from the 12th-15th centuries honoring the Biblical matriarch Mary in her various guises: caring mother, virgin lover, guiding light. Ancient ritualistic texts explore her mythical and human aspects and are set to music by masters of mediaeval England. Recorded live in concert in London’s Cadogan Hall. PROGRAM Anonymous, 13th century Ave Maria; Super te Ierusalem – …

The Croatian Radio-Television Chorus under the direction of Saša Britvić presents a program of 15th- and 16th-century polyphony, focusing on works by Croatian Renaissance master of motet and madrigal Julije Skjavetić. Recorded live in concert in Zagreb’s Mimara Museum. PROGRAM Philippe Verdelot (1480-1552) Madonna, non so dir Julije Skjavetić (fl. 1530-1565) Appariran per me Era il bel viso suo Io …

Duo La Galanía — Soprano Raquel Andueza and theorbist Jesús Fernández Baena — present a program of devotional and secular songs from 17th-century Spain and Italy. Recorded live in concert at the Church of the College of St. Michael, as part of the International Sacred Music Festival in Friburg, Switzerland. PROGRAM Anonymous Omnia vanitas praeter amare Deum, vana bergamasca Lamento …

As 2017 draws to a close, we remember the life and work of three classical artists who died this past year, each, in various degrees, dedicating himself or herself to the performance and diffusion of early music: Italian conductor and musicologist Alberto Zedda, Czech harpsichordist and teacher  Zuzana Růžičková, and Siberian born Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky. We laud them tonight …

On this special extended Christmas edition of Baroque&Before, we present a recording of Cantatas 1,2,3, and 6 of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, recorded live in concert in Leipzig’s St. Thomas Church, where Bach was Kapellmeister from 1723 until his death in 1750. The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra joins the Thomanerchor, the boys’ choir of St. Thomas Church, founded over 800 years ago. …

Songs of celebration, of life, love, and spiritual devotion of the Sephardim — the Jews of the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa — to celebrate the Festival of Lights.