Houston Early Music Announces 2011-2012 Season

What began as a small group of harpsichord enthusiasts in Houston in the mid 1960s has grown to be one of the country's leading presenters of top-quality early-music soloists and ensembles. Known now as Houston Early Music, the organization is gearing up for its 2011-2012 season: "Reimagining the Past."

Five programs are on the schedule this year. Nancy Ellis, artistic director, scouts out top talent from music festivals around the country, including the bi-annual Boston Early Music Festival.

"We feel that the concerts we are presenting this year will appeal to early-music devotees as well as those who have not yet experienced the energy and spontaneity of early-music," said Ellis. "It is a great opportunity for newcomers to explore the rhythmic intricacies, fascinating harmony, and passion of music that is an important part of our past."

Ellis added that hearing music that was written 500 years ago with modern ears is a journey of discovery. "We take people back to a time in musical history when, while there were certain rules to be followed, improvisation was usually the order of the day."

Passionate Enemies

First up on the season, Boston-based La Donna Musicale returns to Houston with music by women composers at the rival German courts of Frederic the Great and the House of Hapsburg. Powerful foes on the battlefield, the zeal for victory extended to the salon, where passions ran high and nothing was spared in their lavish quest of the arts. Music by Frederic's sister, Wilhelmine, and Anna Bon goes up against Hapsburg-sponsored Camilla de Rossi and Maria Teresa Agnesi. Soprano Shari Alise Wilson and countertenor Gerrod Pagenkopf perform with the ensemble that includes violins, viola, violone, harpsichord and viola da gamba.

La Donna Musicale starts the season on Sunday, October 2, 2011, 5:00 p.m at Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd. Those interested in learning more can hear Laury Gutiérrez, La Donna Musicale director, in a pre-concert talk at 4:15 p.m.

To Drive the Cold Winter Away - Christmas Revelry in Renaissance England

Celebrate the holiday season as the acclaimed British ensemble Dufay Collective makes its Houston debut with their own brand of entertaining Christmas treats. Included are carols and a pretty number written by Henry VIII. After that, things move to the streets with tavern music, ecstatic dances and foot-tapping ballads. This holiday delight includes voice and a feast of instruments including fiddle, harp, guitar, vielle, flute, recorder, percussion, hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes.

Dufay Collective performs Sunday, December 11, 2011, 5:00 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave. The ensemble members will be available for a pre-concert talk at 4:15 p.m.

The Harpsichord's Golden Century

In February, harpsichord superstar Richard Egarr returns to Houston with his trademark sense of discovery and a fresh, compelling look at the virtuosic works of 17th century composers Couperin, Purcell, Froberger and Blow. With his inquiring mind and adventurous spirit, Egarr engages the audience with a gripping performance of works from a time when there were no restrictions and eccentricity was the standard.

Richard Egarr is in concert on Friday, February 3, 2012 at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin. He will present a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

Luz del Alva - Renaissance Spanish Songs of Love, War and Devotion

For its annual Hispanic Heritage Series, Houston Early Music is pleased to introduce La Morra, an exciting young Swiss ensemble, to Houston audiences in March. They will be joined by soprano Arianna Savall, in a program of works from the stormy period of the Catholic Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel. It was a time that left in its wake a rich musical legacy that includes a vast repertoire of Spanish secular art songs. It is madly beautiful music, performed on harp, fiddle, flutes, lute and vihuela de mano.

La Morra takes to the stage on Friday, March 2, 1012, 7:30 p.m. at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6221 Main. La Morra members will present a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m.

The Scottish Play

The season concludes with Trio Settecento, made up of rising star violinist Rachel Barton Pine, acclaimed cellist John Mark Rozendaal and harpsichordist David Schrader in a spirited program of Scottish baroque music. Included are earthy, infectious Hebridean fiddling and the renewed pleasures of poetic works of Scotland's classical composers. Even the Italian virtuosi Geminiani and Veracini get in on the action with Scottish-themed compositions.

Trio Settecento brings the season to a close on Friday, May 4, 2012, 7:30 p.m. at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6221 Main, with a pre-concert talk by John Mark Rozendaal at 6:45 p.m.

Season Subscriptions & Tickets
A Houston Early Music full season subscription provides tickets to all five concerts, Rates are $165 for general admission and $135 for seniors. Mini-Pass subscriptions include any three concerts for $100 general admission and $85 for seniors.

Individual tickets are $35 for general admission, $30 for seniors, and $10 for students with ID. Free admission is available for children under 15.

Subscriptions and individual tickets are available online and can also be purchased by mail. To purchase tickets, visit www.HoustonEarlyMusic.org or call 713-432-1744.