Concerts & Events
Past Programs
Click here for 2023 concert details.
Program booklet 2023
Click here for 2022 concert details.
Program booklet 2022
Click here for 2019 concert details.
Program Booklet 2019
Festival Program 2018
Sunday, June 17, 2018
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Parisian Divertissements
Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra in music originally performed in the 18th-century “Concert Spirituel” series in Paris — including a violin concerto by Leclair and Corelli’s beloved Christmas Concerto — plus ballet suites by Telemann and Rameau.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
Bach and the French Style
A recital by the internationally acclaimed organist Jonathan Dimmock, cofounder of the American Bach Soloists.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Stylus Phantasticus
Harmonically adventurous and texturally rich chamber music from Becker, Bertali, Biber, Buxtehude and Schmelzer.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Les Petits Concerts
David Shostac (flute), Lara Wickes (oboe), Elizabeth Blumenstock (violin), Michael Kaufman (cello) and Gabriel Arregui (harpsichord) perform chamber works by Rameau, Telemann, Leclair and their contemporaries.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale: Handel’s Orlando
Sopranos Amanda Keenan and Josefien Stoppelenburg, alto Robin Bier, countertenor Clifton Massey and bass Graham Bier join the Festival Orchestra in a spirited concert version of this charming opera, accompanied by an entertaining narrative.
Program Booklet 2018
Festival Program 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
All a Bout: Dialog in Music & Fencing
Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists in an afternoon of lively Baroque compositions by Biber, Schmelzer and others, featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, and a fencing demonstration set to music.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
Four Viols at Play
A consort of violas da gamba in a program of works from the British Isles during the 16th and 17th centuries, including pieces by Purcell, Jenkins and Hume.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music from Monticello
A program of chamber and vocal music from Thomas Jefferson’s vast library, featuring soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani and accompanied by relevant readings.
Friday, June 23, 2017
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Beyond Baroque
Elizabeth Blumenstock (violin), David Shostac (flute), Timothy Landauer (cello), Andrew McIntosh (violin, viola) and Lara Wickes (oboe) perform chamber works by J.C. Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Cambini and Albrechtsberger.
Sunday, June 25, 2017
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale: A Quire of Choirs
Polyphonic Music from the Edge of the Baroque
For our Festival Finale, cornettos, sackbuts, strings and vocalists join in performing majestic works of Gabrieli and Monteverdi, in collaboration with the Los Angeles–based Baroque ensemble Tesserae. Preceded by an Italian-inspired performance of early folk music played on the hurdy gurdy, zampogna and musette at 3:15 p.m.
Program Booklet 2017
Festival Program 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
The Hanoverian Putsch
Concertos that took England by storm. Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists in an afternoon of Baroque concertos by Johann Christian Bach (“the London Bach,”who spent the last two decades of his life in London) and others, featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 1. With harpsichord soloist Ian Pritchard.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
An Evening in Britain
Celebrated harpist Diana Rowan presents a recital tracing the history of the harp, with a focus on Baroque and pre-Baroque music illustrating how the instrument has been used in the British Isles. Countertenor Dylan Hostetter joins in performing a selection of traditional ballads. With accompaniment by violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Dancing in the Isles
Traditional English, Irish and Scottish medleys for recorder and strings, featuring works by the British masters James Oswald (1710–1759?), Henry Purcell (1659–1695) and others. With recorder soloist Judith Linsenberg.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
A London Salon
Sonatas of the English High Baroque by Handel, Valentine, Stanley and others. With Gabriel Arregui, harpsichord; Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin; Timothy Landauer, cello; and David Shostac, flute.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale: Purcell’s King Arthur
A performance of this dramatic semi-opera of 1691. Elizabeth Blumenstock conducts the Festival Orchestra and vocalists in a full concert version of this operatic milestone to celebrate its 325th anniversary.
Program Booklet 2016
Festival Program 2015 — 35th Annual Season
Sunday, June 21, 2015
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos: A Tale of Two Johanns
Concertos by J.S. Bach and J.G. Graun. Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra and distinguished oboe, recorder, violin, and viola soloists in an afternoon of Baroque concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Gottlieb Graun, featuring Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, with Kathryn Adduci on trumpet, and his Brandenburg Concerto No. 3.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
Bach at Work, Bach at Home
Keyboard masterworks by Bach. Ian Pritchard performs Bach preludes and fugues for organ, and sonatas and suites for harpsichord, with violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music for Three Kings
Excerpts from Bach’s Das Musikalische Opfer, BWV 1079 — an integrated collection of canons, fugues and other pieces all based on a single musical theme given to him by Frederick the Great — are performed in arrangements for strings by the Festival chamber ensemble and guest flutist Christopher Matthews. Plus works written for Baroque-era royalty by Couperin, Quantz and Schmelzer.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
All Bach, All Evening: Sonatas and Trio Sonatas
A selection of duo and trio sonatas and other works by J.S. Bach performed by Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin; Gabriel Arregui, harpsichord; David Shostac, flute; and Gretchen Claassen, cello.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Sacred and Secular: Vocal Music of J.S. Bach and C.H. Graun
Vocal soloists and the Festival Orchestra present J.S. Bach’s sacred Cantatas Nos. 17 and 73, plus arias and other excerpts from C.H. Graun’s 1742 opera Cesare e Cleopatra.
Program Booklet 2015
Festival Program 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Champions of the Concerto
Concertos for Multiple Soloists by Telemann and Vivaldi. Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra in supporting distinguished string soloists and Mindy Rosenberg on flute in an afternoon of concertos by Telemann and Vivaldi.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
Whence Baroque?
O Primavera: Madrigals of the Late Renaissance and Early Baroque. A vocal exploration by the Concord Ensemble, presenting songs by Gesualdo, Vecchi, Monteverdi, Marenzio, Schütz, Ferrabosco and Luzzaschi. With instrumental interludes by Ferrabosco and Uccellini.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Dawn of the Baroque
Arias, Sonatas, Canzonas, Dances and Capriccios of the Italian Early Baroque. Music from the early Baroque period, featuring the cornetto and the sackbut in selections from Gabrieli, Merula, Marini, Cavalli, Frescobaldi, Castello, Falconieri and Uccellini. With Alexandra Opsahl, cornetto; Ian Pritchard, harpsichord; Nick Daley, sackbut; and strings.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Whither Baroque? Origins of the Classical Style
Late Baroque and early Classical pieces by C.P.E. Bach, Balbastre, Boccherini, J.C. Bach, Fasch, Wanhal, and Duport. With Gabriel Arregui, harpsichord; Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin; Timothy Landauer, cello; David Shostac, flute; and Lara Wickes, oboe.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale: 300 Years On
Births, Deaths, Marriages, Publications and Good Gigs in the Music World of 1714. A musical snapshot of exactly three centuries ago, highlighting composers and works related to the milestone year of 1714. Featuring the Festival Orchestral and mezzo-soprano Kristen Toedtman presenting orchestral and vocal works by C.P.E. Bach, Corelli, Telemann, Erlebach, Veracini, Arne and Handel.
Program Booklet 2014
Festival Program 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Music by Avison/Scarlatti, Graupner, Telemann and Vivaldi. Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra and distinguished soloists in an afternoon of Baroque concertos by Avison/Scarlatti, Graupner, Telemann and Vivaldi.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Baroque masterworks by Bach, Buxtehude, Fischer and others. The superb young organist Ian Pritchard presents a recital of Baroque masterworks by Bach, Buxtehude, Fischer and others on the magnificent organ of Saint Michael & All Angels
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Elizabeth Blumenstock leads “Hearing Inner Voices,” an evening of works by Scarlatti, Bach, and Handel, including scena from Handel’s opera Orlando and other pieces for countertenor and chamber ensemble.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Viva Italia! A celebration of chamber music from the Italian Baroque by Brescianello, Platti, Locatelli, Vivaldi, and Alessandro Scarlatti.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Opera Festival Finale
A full concert performance of Handel’s pastoral opera Acis & Galatea, his most popular dramatic work — and his only stage work never to have left the opera repertory.
Program Booklet 2013
Festival Program 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Music by Bach, Quantz, Scarlatti, Telemann, and Vivaldi. Elizabeth Blumenstock leads the Festival Orchestra with guest artists Judith Linsenberg, recorder and Stephen Schultz, flute.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 8 p.m.
Simone Dinnerstein in Recital
A special program of Bach suites and partitas by this acclaimed pianist, one of America’s foremost Bach specialists. Presented jointly with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Elizabeth Blumenstock leads an evening of instrumental and vocal chamber music featuring flute and recorder in works by Bach, Boismortier, Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Featuring French sonatas performed by Elizabeth Blumenstock and guest artists Gabriel Arregui, harpsichord; Timothy Landauer, cello; and David Shostac, flute.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Music by Purcell composed for royal occasions of the English Court; plus the world premiere of Ode after Purcell: Wondrous Cecelia! by composer Roy Whelden, commissioned to honor Dr. Burton Karson. John Alexander, conductor with Pacific Chorale’s John Alexander Singers and the Festival Orchestra led by Elizabeth Blumenstock.
Program Booklet 2012
Festival Program 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Gala Concert: Handel in Italy
Pacific Chorale’s John Alexander Singers
Festival Orchestra
Elizabeth Blumenstock, Concertmaster
John Alexander, Conductor
The Festival’s 31st annual season marked a transitional year. By necessity, following the February 2011 retirement of its esteemed founding artistic director and conductor, Burton Karson, the Festival was not in a position to produce a full series of concerts as in the past. However, the Board of Directors announced that in June 2012 the Festival would return to its traditional week of five concerts. Meanwhile, for 2011, the Festival staged one gala concert, “Handel in Italy,” featuring works by Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, Corelli, and Handel including Handel’s Dixit Dominus, HWV 232.
Program Booklet 2011
Festival Program 2010 — 30th Annual Season
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Solo concertos and concerti grossi by Handel, Dieupart, Porpora, Telemann and Vivaldi, for violin, cello, oboe, organ and trumpet.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Masterworks for organ and Baroque trumpet.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
An evening of entertaining secular music.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Solo, duo and trio sonatas.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Baroque and neo-Baroque Romantic works by Bach, Handel and Brahms.
Program Booklet 2010
Festival Program 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Purcell, Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi for viola da gamba, harp, violin, organ and trumpet.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Masterworks for organ and trumpet by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Alain and others.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Vocal and instrumental chamber music by Purcell, Handel and Mendelssohn.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber music by Handel, Purcell and Bach.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Major works by Purcell, Bach, Handel and Mendelssohn.
Program Booklet 2009
Festival Program 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Bach, Vivaldi, Torelli, Telemann and Sammartini for violin, violoncello, organ and trumpet.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Masterworks by Torelli, Bach and Clérambault, and neo-Baroque works by Liszt and Distler.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Cantatas, arias and choruses by Handel, Alessandro Scarlatti, Torelli and Farina.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber music by Torelli, Telemann, Bach and Roman.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Vivaldi’s Dixit Dominus, RV 59, plus other festive works by Durante and Bach.
Program Booklet 2008
Festival Program 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Bach, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Durante and Porpora for violin, violoncello, organ, plus double concertos for violin and organ and for two oboes
Monday, June 18, 2007
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Masterworks by Buxtehude, Bach, Frescobaldi, and Reger, and neo-Baroque works by Brahms and Langlais.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Bach’s “Peasant Cantata” & shorter works by Tania Gabrielle French, Heinichen, and Bach.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber music by Bach, Handel, Buxtehude, Frederick the Great, and Mondonville.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Festive works by Bach, Handel, and Buxtehude.
Program Booklet 2007
Festival Program 2006
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Leo, Tartini, Telemann, Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Solo works, and works for organ and trumpet, and by J.S. Bach, Guilain, Jeremiah Clarke, Mendelssohn, Albinoni, and Dupré.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Purcell: Welcome to All the Pleasures, Z. 339
Purcell: The Masque in Timon of Athens, Z. 632
Other chamber works by Purcell
Friday, June 23, 2006
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber Music by J.S. Bach, Handel, and Graupner
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Purcell: Hail, Bright Cecilia
Mendelssohn: Hear My Prayer
J.S. Bach: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70
Mozart: God Is Our Refuge, K. 20
Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K. 618
Charpentier: Te Deum
Program Booklet 2006
Festival Program 2005 — 25th Annual Season
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Tartini, Vivaldi, Heinichen, Handel, and Linn
Monday, June 20, 2005
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Solo works by J.S. Bach, A. Scarlatti, Dupré, and Ropek
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Monteverdi: Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda
J.S. Bach: Coffee Cantata
Instrumental concertos
Friday, June 24, 2005
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber Music by J.S. Bach, Fasch, Goldberg, and Pergolesi/Stravinsky
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Scarlatti: Magnificat from Vespero di Santa Cecilia
Handel: Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day
J.S. Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
Program Booklet 2005
Festival Program 2004
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Baroque Concertos
Concertos by Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Corelli, Corrette and Torelli
Monday, June 21, 2004
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 8 p.m.
Organ Recital
Solo works and works for organ and trumpet by Dumage, Cabanilles, Pachelbel, J.S. Bach, Daquin and others
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens I
Purcell: Hark, How the Wild Musicians Sing
Charpentier: Le mariage forcé
Instrumental sonatas and sinfonias
Friday, June 25, 2004
Sherman Library & Gardens, Central Patio Room, 8 p.m.
Music in the Gardens II
Chamber Music by J.S. Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi, Zelenka, and François Couperin
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Saint Michael & All Angels Church, 4 p.m.
Festival Finale
Briegel: Lobet den Herren
Brahms: Herr, wie lange willst du mein so ganz vergessen, Op. 27
J.S. Bach: Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75
Mouret: Suite de Symphonie No. 1
Charpentier: Te Deum
Program Booklet 2004
Festival Programs 1981-2003 — Program Booklets
Please note that while program booklet files 2004 onwards are digital files, the files below are 300dpi grayscale scans of physical copies of cream colored booklets with sepia print. To maximize the viewing quality on opening, go to “view” in your browser’s menu and select “actual size.” Next, select “zoom in” until your preferred file size for reading on screen is reached. Programs can also be printed out, at US letter size per booklet page.
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