Houston Early Music Sets 2015-16 Season

Join Houston Early Music for its 2015-2016 Concert Season featuring five renowned early music ensembles. Dedicated to showcasing music from the Middle Ages through the 18th century, Houston Early Music presents concerts performed with historical instruments and styles true to the period.

"We are pleased to welcome The Rose Ensemble back to Houston, which this season will be joined by The Concert Chorale of Bellaire High School following a weekend residency working with the Ensemble," said Nancy Ellis, artistic director of Houston Early Music. "We are excited to once again team up with Da Camera of Houston, this time for a return visit of The Orlando Consort, which will perform a silent film soundtrack of music from the early 15th century on April 1. Then later in the month, The Baltimore Consort returns to Houston with a program that commemorates the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare."

Houston Early Music celebrates Christmas 2015 with the return of Chatham Baroque, which will present a program of the music of Spain and the New World. And, just in time for Valentine's Day, Lucidarium returns to Houston and will perform "Love Letters from the Italian Renaissance."

Houston Early Music continues its commitment to its Emerging Artists Series and Hispanic Heritage Series this season. As part of Houston Early Music's educational outreach initiative, all performances will feature a discussion program with the ensemble members prior to the concerts.

Emerging Artists Series: THE ROSE ENSEMBLE with The Concert Chorale of Bellaire High School -
Music from the Land of Three Faiths: Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Jews, Christians, and Muslims

Minnesota-based Rose Ensemble returns to Houston, bringing a fascinating exploration of language, spirituality and cultural exchange in the Land of Three Faiths. This entertaining and enlightening program is steeped in the rich history of the Abrahamic faiths. A perfect balance of edgy improvisation, exotic vocal styles, and ancient traditions is achieved via instruments and melded musical ideas of both the Middle East and Europe. The ensemble will be joined by The Concert Chorale of Bellaire High School.

The concert is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, at St. Philip Presbyterian Church, 4807 San Felipe St. 77056, with a preconcert talk beginning at 4:15 p.m.

Hispanic Heritage Series: CHATHAM BAROQUE - Cantadas de Navidad

Don't miss this marvelous ensemble's anticipated return to the Houston Early Music stage with a joyous Christmas program featuring the music of Spain and the New World. Works by Juan Gutierrez de Padilla, Santiago de Murcia, Gaspar Sanz and Ignacio Jerusalem are highlighted by vocals, violins, plucked instruments and percussion. The trio will be joined by soprano Nell Snaidas, countertenor Jóse Lemos and percussionist Danny Mallon.

The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., 77002. A preconcert talk begins at 6:45 p.m.

LUCIDARIUM - Ay me sospiri - Love Letters from the Italian Renaissance

What a perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day! Lucidarium will sonically embrace you with a splendid musical concert of love in the Italian Renaissance tradition. The ensemble vocalists are joined by period winds, plucked instruments, percussion, hammer dulcimer and viola da gamba in the poetry and music of the late 15th to mid-16th centuries. This is a main stage concert for the 2016 Houston Early Music Festival.

The performance begins at 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1311 Holman St., 77004. A preconcert talk begins at 3:15 p.m.

THE ORLANDO CONSORT - Voices Appeared: Silent Cinema and Medieval Music

In collaboration with Da Camera of Houston, The Orlando Consort returns to Houston with the soundtrack for Carl Dryer's 1928 cinematic masterpiece La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc. The acclaimed British vocal ensemble performs music drawn from the period depicted in the film, the early 15th century - plainchant, antiphons and motets, including works by Binchois and Dufay.

The event is set for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016, at Cullen Theatre, The Wortham Center, 500 Texas Ave., 77002. Houston Early Music subscribers receive a discount on preferred seating for this concert. Single tickets will be available from Da Camera of Houston, 713-524-5050 or dacamera.com. Free admission for children does not apply to this performance. A preconcert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. with Orlando Consort's Donald Grieg and Da Camera's artistic director, Sarah Rothenberg.

THE BALTIMORE CONSORT - The Food of Love - Songs, Dances and Fancies for Shakespeare

Perennial Houston audience favorite, The Baltimore Consort offers a fascinating program of 16th century English music commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death in 1616. Courtly and popular songs and dances of the day are interspersed with the music referenced in Shakespeare's plays, performed by vocalists, plucked strings, viola da gamba and Renaissance wind instruments.

The event is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, 2016, at First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd., 77005, with a preconcert talk scheduled for 3:15 p.m.

SUBSCRIPTION / TICKET INFORMATION:

Full season subscriptions and individual tickets for the Houston Early Music 2015-2016 season are available now and can be purchased at HoustonEarlyMusic.org.

Full-season subscriptions may be purchased for $180 general admission and $155 senior admission. A mini-pass option, which provides a selection of any three concerts, is also available for $110 general admission and $95 for seniors. Individual tickets are available for $40 general admission, $35 senior admission and $20 for students with a valid student ID card. Children under the age of 15 receive free admission.

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