Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale

Artist Salon: Nicholas McGegan & Céline Ricci on Baroque Garlands
2026-02-01 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA, 94709, United States
Who’s Invited? Free for Philharmonia Baroque Baroque Garlands ticket holders, subscribers, and $500+ donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Philharmonia Baroque’s Artist Salons are pre-concert talks led by performers, scholars, and guest artists. Offered a few weeks before each concert set, they give audiences historical and cultural context in an engaging setting. Free for ticket holders, subscribers, and donors, the series is designed to deepen your connection to the music.
In this Artist Salon, Music Director Emeritus Nicholas McGegan is joined by internationally acclaimed soprano and Ars Minerva founder and director Céline Ricci for a discussion on Rameau’s La Guirlande and Handel’s Dixit Dominus, exploring how French elegance and Italian grandeur come together in Baroque Garlands.

Special Concert: Jews & Music — Jewish Nightlife in San Francisco
2026-01-31 19:30 | Martin Meyer Sanctuary of Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA, 94118, United States
Jewish Nightlife: Hebrew Poetry, Kabbalah, and Coffee
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Experience an evening of music, mysticism, and poetry inspired by centuries of Jewish nocturnal traditions. Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia’s Music Director Emeritus, leads a program that journeys from candlelit Kabbalistic gatherings in 16th-century Italy to the lively performance traditions of Hebrew poetry in North Africa and the Middle East, and the modern revival of piyyut (Jewish liturgical poetry) in Israel.

Enjoy traditional Syrian and Moroccan songs, evocative Baroque works by Rossi and Boccherini, and commentary from Francesco Spagnolo, Philharmonia’s Jews & Music Scholar-in-Residence. With vocalist and percussionist Yair Harel(Jerusalem), the Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players, and Chorale Quartet.

Coffee included. Conversation guaranteed

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Program
Traditional Syrian & Moroccan songs
ROSSI – Baroque works
BOCCHERINI – Baroque works
Modern revival of piyyut (Jewish liturgical poetry)
Performers
Nicholas McGegan, conductor & harpsichord
Francesco Spagnolo, Jews & Music Scholar-in-Residence
Yair Harel, voice & percussion
Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players & Chorale Quartet

Special Concert: Jews & Music — Jewish Nightlife in Palo Alto
2026-01-29 19:30 | Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, United States
Jewish Nightlife: Hebrew Poetry, Kabbalah, and Coffee
GET TICKETS
Experience an evening of music, mysticism, and poetry inspired by centuries of Jewish nocturnal traditions. Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia’s Music Director Emeritus, leads a program that journeys from candlelit Kabbalistic gatherings in 16th-century Italy to the lively performance traditions of Hebrew poetry in North Africa and the Middle East, and the modern revival of piyyut (Jewish liturgical poetry) in Israel.

Enjoy traditional Syrian and Moroccan songs, evocative Baroque works by Rossi and Boccherini, and commentary from Francesco Spagnolo, Philharmonia’s Jews & Music Scholar-in-Residence. With vocalist and percussionist Yair Harel(Jerusalem), the Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players, and Chorale Quartet.

Coffee included. Conversation guaranteed.

LEARN MORE

Program
Traditional Syrian & Moroccan songs
ROSSI – Baroque works
BOCCHERINI – Baroque works
Modern revival of piyyut (Jewish liturgical poetry)
Performers
Nicholas McGegan, conductor & harpsichord
Francesco Spagnolo, Jews & Music Scholar-in-Residence
Yair Harel, voice & percussion
Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players & Chorale Quartet

Concert: Gloria at Stanford
2025-12-07 14:30 | Bing Concert Hall – Stanford, 327 Lasuen St, Stanford, CA, 94025, United States
Celebrate the Season with Vivaldi’s Gloria
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Celebrate the holidays with Valérie Sainte-Agathe and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale in Vivaldi’s Gloria—a radiant choral masterpiece that bursts with joy and shines with new brilliance on period instruments, evoking the festive sound of 18th-century Venice. Corelli’s Christmas Concerto captures the stillness of a Baroque Christmas Eve, closing with a tender “Pastorale.” The program also introduces new voices: the U.S. premiere of Caroline Shaw’s The Holdfast and the world premiere of Roderick Williams’ Quem Pastores Laudavere.

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Program
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS – Quem Pastores Laudavere (Him Whom Shepherds Praised)
RODERICK WILLIAMS – Quem Pastores Laudavere WORLD PREMIERE
CORELLI – Christmas Concerto
CAROLINE SHAW – The Holdfast U.S. PREMIERE
VIVALDI – Gloria

Performers
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, conductor and chorale director
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale

Concert: Gloria in Berkeley
2025-12-06 14:30 | First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States

Post Concert Reception: San Francisco
2025-12-05 21:30 | The Green Room at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Co-Sponsored by Classical California KDFC Radio
Who’s Invited? $1,000+ Donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Join us after Gloria for a festive reception with wine and light bites. This exclusive gathering offers the chance to celebrate the season, mingle with Philharmonia musicians, and enjoy the company of fellow VIP supporters in the elegant Green Room at Herbst Theatre. Classical California KDFC will co-host this event.
These receptions recognize the generosity of Philharmonia’s donors, whose gifts sustain our artistry and fuel our community engagement and learning initiatives.
To be invited to these receptions, you can upgrade your annual giving to at least the $1,000+ level. Donate now at philharmonia.org/donate or contact development@philharmonia.org to discuss your giving.

Concert: Gloria in San Francisco
2025-12-05 19:30 | Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Celebrate the Season with Vivaldi’s Gloria
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In San Francisco Only: Arrive by 6:45 PM to hear the San Francisco Girls Chorus perform a selection of holiday favorites in the lobby before the concert!
Celebrate the holidays with Valérie Sainte-Agathe and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale in Vivaldi’s Gloria—a radiant choral masterpiece that bursts with joy and shines with new brilliance on period instruments, evoking the festive sound of 18th-century Venice. Corelli’s Christmas Concerto captures the stillness of a Baroque Christmas Eve, closing with a tender “Pastorale.” The program also introduces new voices: the U.S. premiere of Caroline Shaw’s The Holdfast and the world premiere of Roderick Williams’ Quem Pastores Laudavere.
Arrive early and get into the festive spirit as the San Francisco Girls Chorus performs a selection of holiday favorites in the lobby from 6:45 PM to 7:05 PM.

LEARN MORE

Program
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS – Quem Pastores Laudavere (Him Whom Shepherds Praised)
RODERICK WILLIAMS – Quem Pastores Laudavere WORLD PREMIERE
CORELLI – Christmas Concerto
CAROLINE SHAW – The Holdfast U.S. PREMIERE
VIVALDI – Gloria

Performers
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, conductor and chorale director
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale
Pre-concert mini-concert by the San Francisco Girls Chorus

Artist Salon: Caroline Shaw & Valérie Sainte-Agathe on Gloria
2025-11-20 12:00 | Online via Zoom
Online via Zoom (Link by invitation only)
Who’s Invited? Free for Philharmonia Baroque Gloria ticket holders, subscribers, and $500+ donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Philharmonia Baroque’s Artist Salons are pre-concert talks led by performers, scholars, and guest artists. Offered a few weeks before each concert set, they give audiences historical and cultural context in an engaging setting. Free for ticket holders, subscribers, and donors, the series is designed to deepen your connection to the music.
In this Artist Salon, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, Chorale Director Valérie Sainte-Agathe, and Artistic Director Jeff Phillips explore Shaw’s The Holdfast and the choral traditions that shape Philharmonia’s holiday program Gloria.

Special Concert: Sessions I – The Art of the Lute in San Francisco
2025-11-14 19:30 | Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St, San Francisco, 94114, United States
Thomas Dunford: From Baroque to The Beatles
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Doors open at 6:30 PM / Concert starts at 7:30 PM

Philharmonia’s SESSIONS series invites you into intimate venues where music feels close and personal. At Swedish American Hall — a historic gathering space with Victorian charm and rich acoustics — lutenist Thomas Dunford takes you on a journey, from Baroque to The Beatles. From Dowland and Bach to Satie and pop icons, discover the astonishing range of this timeless instrument.

All tickets are seated, and attendees must be 21 or older.

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Program
Dowland, Marais, Satie, Dalza, plus Dunford’s arrangements of The Beatles and Dunford’s own compositions.
Performers
Thomas Dunford, lute

Post Concert Reception: Season Opener in Mountain View
2025-10-19 16:30 | Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (Main Stage), 500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA, 94041, United States
Who’s Invited? $1,000+ Donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Celebrate the season opener in Mountain View with wine, light bites, and lively conversation. This exclusive reception offers you the chance to mingle with Philharmonia musicians and fellow VIP guests as we toast to a season filled with music and community.
Philharmonia’s post-concert receptions are our way of showing gratitude to the donors who make our concerts and community engagement & learning programs possible. Your support brings the 2025/26 season to life, on stage and in the community
To be invited to these receptions, you can upgrade your annual giving to at least the $1,000+ level. Donate now at philharmonia.org/donate or contact development@philharmonia.org to discuss your giving.

Concert: Fury and Heartbreak in Mountain View
2025-10-19 14:30 | Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts (Main Stage), 500 Castro St, Mountain View, CA, 94041, United States
Drama and Passion with Soprano Maya Kherani

Philharmonia’s 2025/26 season opens with a fiery program of Italian Baroque music, fueled by love, rage, and betrayal. Maya Kherani, lauded for her “intelligence, vulnerability, and a rich, soaring soprano” (Opera News), returns to Philharmonia Baroque to portray two heroines forsaken in love in works by Handel and Marcello.
With Václav Luks conducting, Philharmonia brings the sound of period instruments to Venetian elegance and Neapolitan fire, culminating in Vivaldi’s In furore iustissimae irae, a dazzling storm of strings and vocal fireworks.

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Program
GALUPPI—Concerto for Strings No. 4 in C minor
MARCELLO—Ariadne Abandoned
HANDEL—Armida Abandoned
DURANTE—Concerto for Strings No. 2 in G minor
VIVALDI—In the Fury of Most Righteous Wrath
Performers
Václav Luks conductor
Maya Kherani soprano
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Post Concert Reception: Season Opener in Berkeley
2025-10-18 16:30 | First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States
Who’s Invited? $1,000+ Donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Join us in Berkeley following the season opener for refreshments and the chance to connect with Philharmonia musicians and fellow VIP supporters. Celebrate the start of a vibrant new season in the East Bay.
Philharmonia’s post-concert receptions are our way of showing gratitude to the donors who make our concerts and community engagement & learning programs possible. Your support brings the 2025/26 season to life, on stage and in the community
To be invited to these receptions, you can upgrade your annual giving to at least the $1,000+ level. Donate now at philharmonia.org/donate or contact development@philharmonia.org to discuss your giving.

Concert: Fury and Heartbreak in Berkeley
2025-10-18 14:30 | First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA, 94704, United States

Young People's Concert
2025-10-17 11:00 | Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Headline: Inspiring the Next Generation

Who’s Invited? This event is presented for Bay Area K-12 students as part of Philharmonia’s Community Engagement & Learning programs. AT CAPACITY.
Philharmonia’s Young People’s Concert shares the joy of live music with our youngest community members, sparking curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of the arts. By experiencing music as it was first heard centuries ago—on period instruments and in the style of the time—students are invited to connect with history while discovering the thrill of orchestral performance today.
Program: Selected instrumental works from by Durante, Galuppi, and Geminiani.

Performers
Václav Luks
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Post Concert Reception: Season Opener in San Francisco
2025-10-16 21:30 | Education Studio at Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States
Who’s Invited? $1,000+ Donors. By invitation only; RSVP required.
Join us after Fury & Heartbreak for an elegant reception with wine and light bites. Enjoy the chance to mix and mingle with Philharmonia musicians and fellow VIP guests as we toast the start of a new season.
Philharmonia’s post-concert receptions are our way of showing gratitude to the donors who make our concerts and community engagement & learning programs possible. Your support brings the 2025/26 season to life, on stage and in the community
To be invited to these receptions, you can upgrade your annual giving to at least the $1,000+ level. Donate now at philharmonia.org/donate or contact development@philharmonia.org to discuss your giving.

Concert: Fury and Heartbreak in San Francisco
2025-10-16 19:30 | Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA, 94102, United States

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: Ivy Park, San Francisco
2025-10-04 | Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill, 1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States
[This is a private event, for residents only]
Philharmonia’s Retirement Community Series brings the joy of live music directly to residents, offering an uplifting experience that blends performance with stories about how this music was first heard centuries ago. These intimate gatherings spark connection, curiosity, and delight, honoring older adults as vital members of our cultural community. Presented in partnership with each host community, these private events are tailored for residents.
To learn how to bring a program to your community, please contact info@philharmonia.org.

Artist Salon: Fury & Heartbreak
2025-09-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Italian Cultural Institute, San Francisco, 710 Sansome St Floor 2, San Francisco, CA, 94111, United States
[This is a private event, invitation required]

An Evening of Music and Meaning
Philharmonia Baroque’s Artist Salons are pre-concert lectures given by musicologists, performers, or academics that provide historical and cultural context for the concert set being performed, aiming to deepen the audience’s understanding and appreciation of the concert experience. These lectures are often free for ticket holders and instead of taking place an hour before the performance, will be presented a couple of weeks in advance to give our audience time to digest, research more and dig deeply into the discussed works before the performance.
Details
Join us for wine, light appetizers, and a thought-provoking talk about the season-opening concert Fury and Heartbreak, led by Francesco Spagnolo—UC Berkeley scholar and Philharmonia’s Scholar-in-Residence for Jews and Music. The lecture-demonstration will also feature musical interludes with cellist William Skeen.
This event is co-presented with the Italian Consulate Institute of SF.
Program
Lecture about Set One “Fury and Heartbreak”
Performers
William Skeen, cello

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: St. Paul’s, Oakland
2025-09-29 | St. Paul’s Towers, St Paul’s Towers, 100 Bay Place, CA, 94610, United States

Community Music Day at Crowden Music Center
2025-09-28 10:00 - 14:00 | Crowden Music Center (Crowden School), 1475 Rose Street, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
Hands On Music & Fun For All the Family
FREE for all ages!
Musicians from Philharmonia Baroque join Crowden School, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and more for a free day of musical fun and discovery for the whole family, featuring an Instrument Petting Zoo, crafts, face-painting, kid-friendly concerts, and performances by young musicians. Admission to the event is completely free and open to the public, and no entry tickets are required to attend.
For more information, visit Crowden Music Center’s website
Program
The event runs from 10:00AM to 2:00 PM.

10:00 AM – Crowden Suzuki Strings
10:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:45 AM – Very First Concerts with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra (designed for very young audiences)
10:45 AM to 1:15 PM – Philharmonia’s signature Composition Activity and Baroque Instrument Tryouts in rooms #6 and #7 in the lower courtyard
12:30 PM – Student performances by Crowden School musicians
1:30 PM to 1:45 PM – Mini concert by Philharmonia Baroque musicians

Timings are subject to change without notice.
Performers
Maxine Nemerovski, Baroque violin
Kristin Zoernig, double bass

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: The Moldaw Residences
2025-09-27 | The Moldaw Residences, 899 E. Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, United States

Music in Full Bloom: Philharmonia at Flower Piano
2025-09-20 15:00 - 16:00 | San Francisco Botanical Gardens, 1199 9th Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94122, United States
Philharmonia joins San Francisco’s beloved Flower Piano this September at the Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. From September 12–21, visitors can explore the garden’s 55 acres while discovering pianos placed throughout the landscape, with scheduled performances and chances for anyone to play. Hear a quartet of Philharmonia musicians in a 45-minute program on Saturday, September 20 at 3:00 PM in the Zellerbach Garden of Perennials.
Philharmonia’s performance is included with general admission to the Garden—and admission is free for San Francisco residents with valid ID. Non-residents can attend with standard garden admission (about $18 for adults, with discounts for youth, seniors, and children).
👉 Plan your visit to Flower Piano
Program: Sibling Harmonies
This program reveals the brilliance of siblings Fanny Hensel and Felix Mendelssohn through their passionate and lyrical piano quartets. Performed together, these works reveal a world of family connection, youthful genius, and enduring beauty.
FANNY MENDELSSOHN Piano Quartet in A-flat major, H.55
FELIX MENDELSSOHN Piano Quartet Op. 2, No. 2 in F minor
Performers
Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano
Noah Strick, violin
Kati Kyme, viola
William Skeen, cello

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: The Vi, Palo Alto
2025-09-18 | The Vi, 620 Sand Hill Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, United States
[This is a private event, for residents only]
Philharmonia’s Retirement Community Series brings the joy of live music directly to residents, offering an uplifting experience that blends performance with stories about how this music was first heard centuries ago. These intimate gatherings spark connection, curiosity, and delight, honoring older adults as vital members of our cultural community. Presented in partnership with each host community, these private events are tailored for residents.
To learn how to bring a program to your community, please contact info@philharmonia.org

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: Rhoda Goldman Plaza
2025-09-17 | Rhoda Goldman Plaza, 2180 Post St, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States

Coffee Concerts: Bach Before Noon
2025-09-16 10:00 - 11:00 | The Conservatory at One Sansome, San Francisco, One Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, United States
Take Your Coffee Break Back to the Baroque!
Experience live classical music as it was heard in 18th-century salons and coffeehouses—performed on period instruments using historically informed practices by members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
This is the final concert in a three-part Coffee Concert series held at The Conservatory at One Sansome in downtown San Francisco. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy an hour of music alongside complimentary coffee and pastries by Holbrook House.
Program
J.H. Schein—Canzon á6 in A minor
Schelle—Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (instr.)
J.S. Bach—Ricercar á6 from The Musical Offering
C.P.E. Bach—Symphony in B minor, Wq. 182/5
Clara Schumann—Prelude and Fugue in E minor
Mendelssohn—Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 – Finale
Performers
Kati Kyme, violin
Maxine Nemerovski, violin
Noah Strick, violin
Aaron Westman, violin
Maria Caswell, viola
Anna Washburn, viola
Laura Gaynon, violoncello
William Skeen, violoncello

Free and open to the public. Perfect for downtown professionals, neighbors, and anyone looking to escape into a sound world of the past.

Fanfare: Subscriber Appreciation Party
2025-09-14 14:00 - 15:30 | CA
[By invitation only, for 2025/26 Full Season Subscribers]
Celebrating Philharmonia’s Subscribers!
Full-season subscribers are warmly invited to enjoy wine, beverages, and small bites, followed by a special performance of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 6 in D major by Philharmonia’s principal cello, William Skeen. This event is by invitation only, with the downtown Berkeley venue address provided upon confirmation of attendance.

If you have received an invitation, please RSVP by Friday, September 5, 2025.
If you haven’t received an invitation and you think you should have, please contact us at info@philharmonia.org.

Program
J. S. Bach—Cello Suite No. 6
Performer
William Skeen, cello

Philharmonia Retirement Community Series: SF Towers
2025-09-11 | SF Towers, 1661 Pine St, San Francisco, CA, 94109, United States

Coffee Concerts: Freshly Brewed Baroque
2025-08-12 11:00 - 12:00 | The Conservatory at One Sansome, San Francisco, One Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, United States
Take Your Coffee Break Back to the Baroque!
Experience live classical music as it was heard in 18th-century salons and coffeehouses—performed on period instruments using historically informed practices by members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
This is the second of three free Coffee Concerts in the series, held monthly at The Conservatory at One Sansome in downtown San Francisco. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy an hour of music alongside complimentary Holbrook House coffee and pastries.
Program:
• Telemann – Trio Sonata in D major, TWV 42:D5
• Handel – Trio Sonata in B minor, HWV 386b
• Bach – Sonata for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord No. 2 in D major, BWV 1028 (excerpt)
• Rebel – Two Musettes for Flute and Violin
•Telemann – “Paris” Quartet in E minor, TWV 43:e4
Performers:
Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin
Stephen Schultz, flute
Corey Jamason, harpsichord
Elisabeth Reed, viola da gamba
Upcoming date:
☕ September 16 (10:00 AM) (PLEASE NOTE EARLIER START TIME!)
Free and open to the public. Perfect for downtown professionals, neighbors, and anyone looking to escape into a sound world of the past.

Coffee Concerts: Mozart in the Morning
2025-07-15 11:00 - 12:00 | The Conservatory at One Sansome, San Francisco, One Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, United States
Take Your Coffee Break Back to the Baroque!
Experience live classical music as it was heard in 18th-century salons and coffeehouses—performed on period instruments using historically informed practices by members of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
This is the first of three free Coffee Concerts in the series, held monthly at The Conservatory at One Sansome in downtown San Francisco. Come early, grab a seat, and enjoy an hour of music alongside complimentary Ritual Coffee and Semifreddi’s pastries.
Program
• Boccherini – String Quartet in G minor, G.194
• Mozart – String Quartet in C major, K.57
• Mozart – String Quartet in G major, K.387
Performers (String Quartet):
Kati Kyme, violin
Noah Strick, violin
Maria Caswell, viola
Clara Abel, cello
Upcoming dates:
☕ August 12
☕ September 16
(All concerts begin at 11:00 AM)
Free and open to the public. Perfect for downtown professionals, neighbors, and anyone looking to escape into a sound world of the past.
