Calendar of Events

Though little-known today, Ferdinand VI was Spain’s most musical monarch. At their palaces at Aranjuez and Madrid, Ferdinand and his Portuguese-born wife Maria Bárbara de Bragança employed an army of Spanish and Italian musicians and artists that easily rivaled those at the equally music-obsessed courts of Louis XV or Frederick the Great. Among the king’s musical entourage was Farinelli, the famed castrato who had originally come to Spain to assuage Ferdinand’s father’s melancholy with his voice, and Domenico Scarlatti, who had been the Queen’s harpsichord tutor since the age of ten. This program, our first live performance since February 2020, will offer a glimpse into the public and private musical life of the royal couple, with operatic and orchestral music by Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian composers including Scarlatti, José de Nebra, Carlos de Seixas, Nicola Conforto, Luigi Boccherini, and others, presented by a full orchestra and featuring sopranos Julianna Emanski and Shari Wilson.

The San Antonio Museum of Art presents an orchestral suite by composer Nathan Felix, featuring newly written music for four harpsichords, strings, and a choir. The music draws inspiration from the exhibition America’s Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution. Local harpsichord builder Gerald Self will introduce the performance with a brief discussion on the history of harpsichords and give insight into his building process. The ensuing performance will be designed to create a surround-sound aural experience as each harpsichord will be strategically spaced within SAMA’s Great Hall to form a wide circle.

Sacred Music of the German Baroque

Presented by Alamo Baroque, Olmos Ensemble is joined by St. Mark’s Samuel Gaskin at the keyboard to present a program of chamber music including Sonatas by Handel, Vivaldi, and Telemann, and the intriguing Rustiques by Joseph Canteloube.
Free parking is in the church lot on Jefferson Street between Martin and Pecan.

J.S. Bach Cantata BWV 29
“Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir”
With the Choir of Zion Lutheran Church
Soloists TBA
Additional service at 11:30A.M.

Handel’s MESSIAH
Experience this intimate performance of Handel’s Messiah (Christmas portion) using period instruments and Baroque tuning as were custom in Handel’s time. The San Antonio Choral Society and Sonido Barroco combine to present this stunning performance. Due to Covid precautions, this year’s Messiah will not be a community sing-along. A portion of ticket sales from this event will go to support St. PJ’s Children’s Home. $25 General Admission; no discount tickets since this event is a fundraiser.
** We are excited to resume holding these events in person while ensuring the safety of our attendees and performers. Masks will be required for all in attendance and social distancing provided. These protocols and our performance season will be re-evaluated on a continual basis and subject to change.