Baroque soloists season opens in October

The Sacramento Baroque Soloists opens its 11th season on Oct. 13 and 14 with “Musick in the King’s Court,” an autumn’s evening of music played in royal chambers from the courts of Louis XIV of France to Queen Elizabeth of England and Queen Christina of Sweden.

The soloists’ four-concert series continues Nov. 30, and Dec. 1 and 2 with performances of the popular “Winter’s Eve” concert, celebrating the musical traditions of the winter solstice. The “Winter’s Eve” concert has sold out so often that the group added a Friday evening performance this year.

On Jan. 26 and 27, cellist Michael Lawson and harpsichordist Ellen Defner warm the depths of winter with an evening of Baroque cello songs and sonatas, featuring works by Berteau, Marcello, Geminiani and Vivaldi.

The Soloists bring back the “Concerto Grossi!” concert on March 9 and 10, with the larger ensemble performing works by Corelli, Vivaldi and Bach.

“Musicians playing such instruments perform in spaces with resonant acoustics, which give the sound a natural reverberation that highlights the harmonic colors of the music,” Lawson amplified.

The Soloists’ evening performances this season will be performed at St. Pauls’ Episcopal Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sacramento, which have spaces that naturally amplify the period-style instruments. The Soloists will perform the Sunday afternoon concerts at Stegman Hall at the Rudolph Steiner College in Fair Oaks, another space with excellent acoustics for Baroque instruments.

Subscriptions to the 2012-13 season are now available. General admission, senior admission and student passes range in price from $36 to $90.

Subscriptions  may be purchased through the Sacramento Baroque Soloists by phone at 916-705-3806 or online at sacramentobaroque.org.

Sacramento Baroque Soloists’ Saturday evening performances are at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 1430 J St., in October, December and January, and at St. John’s Lutheran Church at 1701 L St., in March. All Sunday afternoon performances are at Stegmann Hall on the campus of Rudolf Steiner College at 9200 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Fair Oaks.