Boston Early Music Festival: A Celebration of Women

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The Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) has taken place every other year since 1981. This year’s festivities will be devoted to women in early music, from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The primary BEMF mission is to highlight lesser-known operas from the early-music era—historically informed vocal/choral and instrumental interpretations are further enriched by period set designs, costumes, dance, and staging. These have been redesigned by stage director, opera designer, and baroque French opera and theatre specialist Gilbert Blin.

The BEMF has become one of the world’s major early-music events since its inception, offering multiple programs and activities, especially excellent baroque opera performances, award-winning recordings, and an annual concert season that brings together the greatest early-music performers in Boston and New York City.

Two operas centred around mythical magicians will be programmed together with a concert series taking place from June 4 to 11. Circé by Henri Desmarest will take centre stage. The opera Circé was produced at Opéra de Paris in 1694 and based on a libretto by poet Louise-Geneviève Gillot de Saintonge. The opera will be performed on four consecutive nights at the magnificent Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, featuring French contralto Lucile Richardot in the title role. On June 10, the BEMF Vocal Ensemble will present Alcina by Francesca Caccini at the New England Conservatory, featuring Canadian mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel in the title role. Composed in 1625 and commissioned by Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, the opera once known as La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (The Liberation of Ruggiero from the Island of Alcina) will be produced by a woman for the first time. Caccini was one of the leading figures at the Medici Court during the reign of Christina of Lorraine and Maria Maddalena of Austria.

Woman Scorned: Circé, Phèdre, and Armide, an opera highlighting the misogynous treatment of witches and tragic temptresses, will be presented on June 6 by the musical ensemble Les Délices, whereas Vox Luminis will perform in The Virgin Mary: Stabat Mater concert on June 6 and Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day and J.S. Bach’s Magnificat with the BEMF Orchestra on June 8.

The festival’s flagship exhibition takes place from June 7 to 10. The exhibition is among the world’s greatest early-music venues, bringing together a number of renowned early-music professionals, period-music manufacturers, music publishers, book dealers, exceptional printed and manuscript music, and representatives from the greatest conservatories and music schools around the world. In addition, the Courtyard by Marriott will host discussions, symposiums, and—for the first time—master classes.

Other scheduled activities, such as workshops, discussions, and concert series, will complement the festival.