Early Music Concerts: performances worldwide

Candlelight Concerts: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of live music by candlelight to Muziekgebouw Eindhoven! Experience the music of Vivaldi under the warm glow of candlelight.

InAlto

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

You must hear the Vespro della Beata Vergine at least once in your life, the Marian Vespers by Claudio Monteverdi. According to many, this theatrical hymn of praise is the most beautiful music of the early Baroque period. The Belgian baroque ensemble InAlto, which recorded the work on CD, assembled as many authentic instruments as possible to recreate the original sound of this deeply moving music. For example, they use a copy of an organ from 1578 that represents the sound which must once have inspired Monteverdi. The character of the various, often soloistic chants ranges from simple Gregorian chant to richly woven polyphony. InAlto approaches this music in a chamber-music spirit, singing and playing without a conductor. Monteverdi’s music represents the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque. He was among the first to compose operas, and his affinity for the genre is clearly audible in this sacred work. He colors the music through the use of early wind instruments such as cornett and trombone, alongside the customary string instruments, including the viole da braccio (arm violin). The Marian Vespers were dedicated to Pope Paul V. Monteverdi himself traveled to Rome to present them to the Pope, using the Vespers to apply for a position at the papal chapel. He did not obtain that post, but he was appointed maestro di cappella at St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Candlelight Concerts: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Paterskerk (DomusDela))

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of live music by candlelight to the Paterskerk! Experience the music of Vivaldi and more during this extended concert in the warm glow of candlelight.

Candlelight Concerts: Tribute to Queen & The Beatles

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 19:30:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Paterskerk (DomusDela))

Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of live music by candlelight to the beautiful setting of the Paterskerk! A string quartet will perform a tribute to Queen and The Beatles this evening.

Noé Inui

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

He is the master of the suites for just one instrument: Johann Sebastian Bach. It is a demanding genre in which the musician must inevitably expose themselves. Violinist Noé Inui takes on the challenge with Bach’s First and Second Suites and with Violin Sonata No. 6 by the Belgian Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931), written in the spirit of Bach. Both Bach’s suites — of which the magnificent final movement of No. 2, the Chaconne, has taken on a life of its own — and Ysaÿe’s acrobatic sonata reveal the violin in all its possibilities and give the soloist the opportunity to shine in musical virtuosity. Like Bach, Ysaÿe wrote six solo sonatas, but unlike Bach he dedicated each of them to admired friends and contemporaries. The sixth was dedicated to the Spanish violinist and composer Manuel Quiroga, which explains the Spanish influences, such as the clearly recognisable Habanera. All six sonatas are fiendishly difficult, full of double stops, lightning-fast finger work and demanding challenges for intonation. Ysaÿe wrote his sonatas in 1923 in a very short period of time. It is said that he took only a single day to compose them. In any case, it is impressive that he managed to give each sonata its own character.

Tenebrae Choir

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

Experience the absolute pinnacle of choral music. Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine), the award-winning British choir Tenebrae is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles. Under the direction of Nigel Short, Tenebrae dives into the turbulent history of sixteenth-century Tudor England—a time when the country was torn between allegiance to Catholic Rome and a rising Protestant nationalism. While William Byrd and Thomas Tallis top the Tudor charts today, Tenebrae proves that their contemporaries Robert White and William Mundy deserve the exact same acclaim. As the ultimate specialists in British polyphony, the singers reveal the deep, spiritual conviction of this era. Allow yourself to be swept away by the monumental motets of Mundy and White, a masterful mass by Byrd, and Tallis’ deeply moving anthem If ye love me.

Le Caravansérail

Sun, 13 Dec 2026 12:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

Two voices, one simple accompaniment. And suddenly: light in the darkness. François Couperin’s Leçons de ténèbres are among that rare kind of artwork in which tradition and genius merge to produce perfection. Sopranos Rachel Redmond and Maïlys de Villoutreys gracefully deliver Couperin’s richly ornamented musical orations, demonstrating the refinement of these spiritual musings. Le Caravansérail accompanies the Leçons with a suite for viola da gamba and intimate harpsichord music.

Christmas with the Dutch Bach Society

Tue, 15 Dec 2026 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

From darkness to light… It is December and Christmas is approaching. Outside it is dark, bleak, and cold. We want light, we want warmth. And we find it in music. Bach’s radiant Magnificat is performed alongside that of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Two wonderful Christmas works by father and son. The Magnificat is the hymn of praise by Mary, the mother of Jesus. The first line, ‘Magnificat anima mea Dominum’, means ‘my soul glorifies the Lord’. Words from the Middle Ages. But countless composers since then have felt inspired to compose their greatest works based on them. J.S. Bach wrote his beloved Magnificat in 1723 for choir, soloists, and orchestra. Tonight’s concert unfolds from the smallest musical core: the monophonic Gregorian chant Ave Maris Stella. Its dark atmosphere transitions into a Sinfonia by Bach’s eldest son, Wilhelm Friedemann. A talented composer, he never became very popular. How different was the fate of Carl Philipp Emanuel, the most successful of all Bach’s children, who in the second half of the eighteenth century was called ‘the great Bach’. His Magnificat, his first major vocal work, breathes the spirit of his father’s Magnificat and Hohe Messe. At the same time, it looks ahead to the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Collegium Vocale Gent

Fri, 29 Jan 2027 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

In the Netherlands true “Passion country” the St Matthew Passion and the St John Passion are performed together nearly two hundred and fifty times a year. The opportunity to hear Mass in B minor, considered by some to be even more beautiful than the Passions, is far rarer. So seize that chance, especially under the direction of Baroque specialist Philippe Herreweghe and his outstanding Collegium Vocale Gent. Between an awe-inspiring Kyrie and the jubilant concluding Dona nobis pacem, we hear nine unique arias and duets, fourteen impressive ensemble movements for four, five, six, and even eight voices, and a wide array of instrumental solos. Because of its scale, the nearly 120-minute Mass could never have been performed in its entirety during a church service. Yet it is not true that Johann Sebastian Bach never heard this monumental work performed live; over the years, parts of it were heard separately. Most Bach scholars assume that he largely compiled the Mass from existing material, especially from his predominantly vocal cantatas. The exquisite Et incarnatus est is Bach’s very last vocal composition. It follows the Crucifixus, written more than thirty years earlier as an adaptation of a cantata from 1714. The complete Mass is often regarded as Bach’s musical testament.

François Joubert-Caillet & Philippe Grisvard

Sat, 20 Feb 2027 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

Johannes Schenck did what every genius does: ignore boundaries and do what no one ever thought possible. And so, our 17th-century compatriot fused Italian bravado, German depth, and French finesse into a musical language that belongs to him, and him alone. Gambist François Joubert-Caillet and harpsichordist Philippe Grisvard tap into Schenck’s richest vein: sonatas from Tyd en Konst- Oeffeninger, Scherzi Musicali, and L’Écho du Danube—titles that reveal that the musical horizons of this superman on strings extended far beyond Amsterdam.

Julia Lezhneva, Maarten Engeltjes & PRJCT Amsterdam

Wed, 24 Feb 2027 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

“The most perfect and moving duet ever to have flowed from the pen of any composer.” described the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau the opening movement of Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Pergolesi wrote it in 1736, suffering from tuberculosis, during the final weeks of his 26-year life in a Franciscan monastery near Pozzuoli. Immediately after his death, the work became immensely famous. Antonio Vivaldi composed In furore giustissimae irae in the 1720s during a visit to Rome. The Nisi Dominus is a musical setting of a psalm for the Vespers service; it was written when Vivaldi was still a music teacher at the girls’ orphanage, the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice. A magnificent score. The other Vivaldi. We know him for The Four Seasons, but he had many more facets. With the motet In furore giustissimae irae and the cantata Nisi Dominus, he proves himself a great vocal composer as well. Yet it always remains unmistakably Vivaldi: radiant, colorful, energetic. The star soprano Julia Lezhneva is the ideal interpreter for this repertoire. One of the most sought-after sopranos in the world, she specializes in Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel and Gioachino Rossini, and is a true virtuoso coloratura soprano. Maarten Engeltjes is a highly sought-after countertenor from the Netherlands. The two merge in Pergolesi’s heart-rending Stabat Mater.

Bach’s St Matthew Passion

Wed, 17 Mar 2027 17:30:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

For generations, the St Matthew Passion has held a special place in the cultural heart of the Netherlands. Every year, in the weeks leading up to Easter, listeners gather to experience Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental masterpiece, a work filled with deep emotion, reflection, and humanity. More than a concert, it is an essential tradition, in which music gives voice to grief, doubt, compassion, and hope. The Philips Philharmonic Choir and the baroque orchestra Florilegium Musicum bring this timeless work to Muziekgebouw Eindhoven in a performance that invites us to pause and listen more deeply. With well-known chorales, intimate arias, and compelling narratives, Bach sketches the last days of Jesus Christ in a story of human vulnerability and enduring love. Performed on original period instruments and baroque replicas, the music sounds as it was heard in Bach’s time.

Bachs Matthäus-Passion

Tue, 23 Mar 2027 17:00:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

‘Kommt ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen…’ The opening of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is magnificent and immortal. The Netherlands Bach Society has performed it every year since its founding in 1922. That’s more than a century! The St. Matthew Passion is one of the greatest works of art ever created. It sets the story of Christ’s suffering to music. Betrayal, condemnation, death, and unconditional love—it’s all there. The piece combines the most horrific and the most beautiful and continues to amaze and move you, whether you are religious or not. Lars Ulrik Mortensen, renowned Baroque conductor and good friend of the Bach Society, is conducting this time. Let yourself be moved… Conductor Lars Ulrik Mortensen: ‘In the St. Matthew Passion, Bach used religious texts. I have often wondered whether I, as a non-believer, am allowed to conduct Bach’s religious works. But I think that the deeper meaning of words is universal, whether they come from the Bible or from a poem. Just as the feelings that texts evoke are universal. Bach writes in a traditional style, with both feet firmly on the ground. He understands the human condition and all our emotions like no other. At the same time, he created music that is absolutely divine. But you can always relate to it because of the recognition of the human aspect.’

Philzuid

Sat, 27 Mar 2027 17:00:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Hertog Jan Zaal)

Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is back! Overwhelming choral passages and delightful arias lift the soul. Chief conductor Benjamin Goodson of the Groot Omroepkoor is taking on the challenge together with Philzuid. As soon as spring arrives, butterflies start fluttering in the stomach. Not only are the birds singing at the top of their lungs again, but one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written is also resounding. No composition can add more color to this time of rebirth and hope than Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. This timeless oratorio has now been separated from religion and belongs to everyone. In the Netherlands, a veritable St. Matthew tradition has developed, stretching from the Concertgebouw to the Grote Kerk Naarden. Philzuid has also embraced the St. Matthew Passion in every key. In collaboration with Benjamin Goodson, chief conductor of the Groot Omroepkoor, Philzuid will present an unforgettable St. Matthew Passion. They will receive inspiring support from top choirs such as Studium Chorale from Maastricht and Schola Puerorum from Den Bosch. Top soloists such as baritone Roderick Williams and soprano Sophie Bevan will also join them. British conductor Benjamin Goodson has worked with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the London Symphony Orchestra, and progressive directors such as Robert Wilson and Thomas Guthrie. The popularity of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is undisputed. For years, this masterpiece has topped NPO Klassiek’s Classical Top 400. For those who are or are not entirely familiar with classical music, the German Baroque master wrote an Easter oratorio that is unparalleled. A healing respite for anyone who wants to escape the hustle and bustle of this world for a moment. Bach crafted his ingenious music with timeless melodies that make hearts beat faster. During the nearly three-hour passion, countless highlights follow one another: from arias such as Erbarme dich and Aus Liebe to the ecstatic choruses. The St. Matthew Passion is an immersive total experience of radiant music, rich language, and pure contemplation.

Carel Kraayenhof Quartet & Nuala McKenna

Sun, 04 Apr 2027 10:00:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

The captivating and moving music of Argentine Astor Piazzolla is a blend of classical music, tango and jazz. And what happens when you add the Baroque music of Bach to that mix? You get a top-class musical celebration! Together with classical cellist Nuala McKenna, bandoneon player Carel Kraayenhof (yes, the one from the Dutch royal wedding) and his quartet perform the program Bach in Buenos Aires, which includes works by Piazzolla, Kurt Weill and Kraayenhof himself. Pianist and composer Juan Pablo Dobal, a member of the quartet who grew up in Argentina with tango and classical music, wrote new work especially for this concert. It is well known that contemporary classical composers have written works inspired by tango. But far fewer people know that the reverse has also happened — tango composers drawing inspiration from classical music. In Piazzolla’s works, for example, you can recognize Bach-like fugues, while quotations from Beethoven appear in the music of Osvaldo Pugliese. Nuala McKenna is the cellist of the Delta Piano Trio and principal cellist of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. She fell in love with Piazzolla’s music as a child and now sees a long-held wish come true: performing his music with one of Europe’s finest tango ensembles.

Ratas del viejo Mundo

Tue, 06 Apr 2027 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

From sweet ecstasy to dark frenzy: Ratas del Viejo Mundo explores love in all its dimensions. Four voices and a Renaissance lute scour every inch of the spectrum: from tenderness and desire to jealousy and passion. The madrigals of Willaert, De Rore, Lassus, De Wert, and Waelrant skim across high artistic peaks and deep emotional valleys. And they intertwine intimately with the instrumental toccatas, branles, and ricercares of Galileo and Da Milano. A concert like a diary, with the lute as its beating heart.

Pynarello

Thu, 15 Apr 2027 18:15:00 GMT

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Muziekgebouw Eindhoven (Kleine zaal)

With Romani!, Pynarello takes you on an adventurous and energetic musical journey inspired by the ancient roads of the Romani people. The journey begins in India, where the roots of Roma culture lie, and continues via the Middle East to Europe. Wherever the Roma went, they influenced and were influenced by the local population. In addition to traditional Roma music, Pynarello performs classical pieces by Telemann, but with a Roma glow. The German Baroque composer, deeply impressed by the fiery improvisations he heard the Romani playing in the café, often used elements from that music in his compositions. Pynarello brings all this richness to life together with three top soloists. Romanian cimbalom and accordion virtuoso Vasile Nedea, who comes from the Roma culture, built an impressive career in the Netherlands after studying at the conservatory in Bucharest. Here he transformed from a street musician into a much sought-after soloist and composer, connecting Romani music with Western classical styles. Niti Ranjan Biswas brings sophisticated rhythms to life in a virtuoso manner on his tabla, an Indian percussion instrument. He began his musical journey in Bangladesh, where he became a popular musician at a young age. After intensive studies with great masters in India, he grew into a renowned performer in Europe. Dutch guitarist Faifie Reinhardt embodies the swing and soul of gypsy jazz. As a (solo) guitarist in Jimmy Rosenberg’s trio, he proudly bears the family name of the legendary Django Reinhardt, whose music has captured hearts worldwide and whom he honors in a masterful way.