Born in 1567 in Cremona, then a border town close to the Republic of Venice, Claudio Monteverdi lived in the city until 1591 before entering the service of Duke Vincenzo I Gonzaga of Mantua (Portrait by Bernardo Strozzi c. 1630)

Peter Phillips and The Tallis Scholars performing in the church San Marcellino (1602), renowned for its Baroque-style interiors (Photo by Francesca Faelutti)

Mezzo-soprano Shakèd Bar and tenor Jorge Navarro Colorado in Cavalli's ‘Ercole amante’ (Photo by Lorenzo Gorini)

Cavalli's ‘Ercole amante’ at Teatro Ponchielli (Photo by Lorenzo Gorini)

Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques performing in the auditorium of Cremona's Violin Museum (Photo by Lorenzo Gorini)

Apolline and Thaïs Raï-Westphal (Photo by Lorenzo Gorini)

Piazza del Comune, the main public square in Cremona, with its iconic Duomo in the background (Photo by Trolvag)

Continuo’s Writer-in-Residence reviews the final weekend of Cremona's Monteverdi Festival, with Les Talens Lyriques and The Tallis Scholars.

Cremona in full voice: Impressions from the Monteverdi Festival 2025

The Hall of Mirrors, Versailles Palace

Grace, elegance, cultural identity

This playlist explores the jewels of French Baroque music, from well-known names such as Rameau and Lully, to rarely-heard gems by lesser known composers. 

Jewels of the French Baroque

Members of the Linarol Consort of Viols with soprano Héloïse Bernard

The Emperor Maximilian I and his Family (Bernhard Strigel c.1516-1520)

‘La franchoise nouvelle’ from the Bassedance Book of Marguerite

Linarol viols

Claire Horáček

Continuo Connect catches up with viol player Claire Horáček of the Linarol Consort to discuss her route into Early Music, and Linarol’s upcoming recording.

Claire Horáček: Reviving Renaissance Sound

Brecon Baroque

Rachel Podger

“Rachel Podger, the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin,” (The Times) has established herself as a leading interpreter of the Baroque and Classical

The dynamic ensemble Brecon Baroque consists of an international line-up of world-class virtuosi in the period-instrument world.

Wigmore Hall

Early Music at Wigmore Hall

Wigmore Hall, one of the world’s great concert halls, specialises in chamber and instrumental music, early music and song.

Baroque Fancies: Rachel Podger and Friends

Music by Biber and Froberger

Ryedale Festival image

The Ryedale Festival

The Ryedale Festival brings two weeks of great music and world-renowned performers to beautiful Yorkshire places every July.

Hassan Marzban - Hassan Marzban

Hassan Marzban

Arcangelo - Handel with Arcangelo

Handel with Arcangelo

Vache Baroque

We are Vache Baroque: a group of musicians intent on connecting a younger and more diverse range of people to the power of high-quality Baroque-era music and drama.

Buxton Opera House

Buxton International Festival

A summer festival of world class opera, music, books and jazz in the heart of the Peak District.

Vache Baroque - Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s La descente d’Orphée aux enfers

La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers

Consone Quartet

The first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists, the Consone Quartet are fast making a name for themselves with their honest and expressive interpretations of classical and romantic repertoire.

Surrey Bach festival image

Surrey Bach Festival

Four days of early music, history, and natural beauty, set in the north Surrey countryside.

Consone Quartet, joined by wind players, performed Wranitzky's arrangement of Haydn’s Op. 71 Quartets.

Mozart and Schumann Quartets

Fair Oriana

  A chamber music ensemble featuring two sopranos and continuo, who perform concerts with a hint of theater.

Fair Oriana - Triple Concert

Triple Concert

Pretty Yende (Semele)

Handel: Semele

Apollo's Cabinet

Apollo’s Cabinet are an early music ensemble founded at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2018. Since then they have grown in size and perform with a flexible lineup to offer versatility and variety in programming.

Lichfield Festival

11 days of music and performance across Lichfield

Apollo's Cabinet - The comic muse 

The comic muse

The Oxford 'Early Music by Candlelight' Summer Festival

Early Music by Candlelight Summer Festival

Music and words in a collection of imaginative and scholarly programmes, performed by members of award-winning ensemble Charivari Agréable.

Charivari Agréable - Salve Regina

Salve Regina

Sarah Small

Sarah Small is a viola da gamba player performing regularly as a soloist and chamber musician, and founder of the ensemble Hex.

Your ultimate guide to
Early & Baroque Music

Classical concerts across the UK

What's On

Explore period-instrument performances of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, classical and new music, and choral & vocal repertoire.

Music by Biber and Froberger

Brecon Baroque

Hassan Marzban

Hassan Marzban (recorder) & David Gordon (harpsichord)

Handel with Arcangelo

Arcangelo

La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers

Vache Baroque

Mozart and Schumann Quartets

Consone Quartet

Triple Concert

Fair Oriana

Handel: Semele

Royal Ballet & Opera

The comic muse

Apollo's Cabinet

Salve Regina

Charivari Agréable

Good Again?

Sarah Small

Features

Discover the fascinating world of Early and Baroque music through artist interviews, festival reviews, playlists, album features, and expert insights.

Cremona in full voice: Impressions from the Monteverdi Festival 2025

Jewels of the French Baroque

Claire Horáček: Reviving Renaissance Sound

Don't miss a beat – subscribe today!

Help early music flourish!

Your ultimate guide toEarly & Baroque Music

Classical concerts across the UK

What's On

Explore period-instrument performances of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, classical and new music, and choral & vocal repertoire.

Music by Biber and Froberger

Brecon Baroque

Hassan Marzban

Hassan Marzban (recorder) & David Gordon (harpsichord)

Handel with Arcangelo

Arcangelo

La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers

Vache Baroque

Mozart and Schumann Quartets

Consone Quartet

Triple Concert

Fair Oriana

Handel: Semele

Royal Ballet & Opera

The comic muse

Apollo's Cabinet

Salve Regina

Charivari Agréable

Good Again?

Sarah Small

Features

Discover the fascinating world of Early and Baroque music through artist interviews, festival reviews, playlists, album features, and expert insights.

Cremona in full voice: Impressions from the Monteverdi Festival 2025

Jewels of the French Baroque

Claire Horáček: Reviving Renaissance Sound

Don't miss a beat – subscribe today!

Help early music flourish!

Your ultimate guide to
Early & Baroque Music