NEW LONDON — Flutist Emi Ferguson, whose artistry was recently described as "dazzling" by the New York Times' Zachary Woolfe in a review that appeared on page one of the paper, will perform a program of virtuoso sonatas by J.S. and C.P.E. Bach on Sunday, the second day of the Connecticut Early Music Festival.
The festival, now in its 43rd year, opens on Saturday under the artistic direction of Ian Watson, at Harkness Chapel on the Connecticut College campus, with Handel’s "Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline."
James Burton, director of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, will lead the Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble in Handel’s tribute to his forward-thinking queen, patron, and friend.
The festival — with six concerts across the first three weekends in June — continues on Sunday, June 8, at St. Ann’s Parish, Old Lyme, with Ferguson's concert. An audience favorite and a brilliant flutist, Ferguson continues to make waves in the music world. A post-concert reception will follow her concert.
“This year’s festival brings to life remarkable compositions from the 17th and 18th centuries,” said Watson in an email. “These performances, honoring the composers’ intentions, promise to be fresh and revelatory. They still have the power to transport us today."
As always, the festival brings together world-class musicians to perform both familiar masterworks and rarely heard gems, he said.
“Our 2025 Festival showcases the rich tapestry of early music, from the brilliance of the three sopranos in 'Concerto Delle Donne,' to intimate chamber music featuring viola da gamba and theorbo, to the thrilling sound of our Festival Ensemble performing Vivaldi's beloved 'Four Seasons,'” said Board President Henry Clapp. "Whether you are a seasoned early music enthusiast or discovering these treasures for the first time, we look forward to sharing these extraordinary performances with you!”
On Saturday, June 14, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Niantic, Watson, the artistic director, will present a special concert of Baroque organ masterworks in memory of John P. Anthony, longtime president of the Connecticut Early Music Society.
The festival continues on Sunday, June 15, at the Chester Meeting House with a program titled "Concerto Delle Donne," three exceptional sopranos perform a program of late 16th-century music composed specifically for professional female voices.
On Saturday, June 21, an intimate evening of French Baroque chamber music, featuring viola da gamba and the orbo will take place at La Grua Center, Stonington.
The festival concludes with a celebration of the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, performed by Susanna Ogata and the Festival Ensemble on Sunday, June 22, at Harkness Chapel, Connecticut College.
Founded in 1982 by a group of early music devotees, the Connecticut College-based music society presents an annual festival of between six and nine concerts each June.
The term “early music” refers both to a repertory (European music written before about 1800, encompassing medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early classical music) and to an approach to performance (“historically-informed performance,” including the use of period instruments).
Performers and scholars of early music seek to discover and present music from times past and to explore a repertory of music that is otherwise little known.
Visit https://www.ctearlymusic.org.
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