MUSIC

Six spirited players of Baroque instruments capture the drama of theater music as it would have been heard in elegant French salons before the Revolution—the finest of aristocratic entertainments, full of grace and wit, from the 17th and 18th centuries. Don't miss this splendid evening, with the exquisite refinement of the Passacaille from Lully’s opera Armide (1686); Couperin’s monumental suite in Spanish style, L’Espagnole; the lightning scene changes in Rebel’s pastiche Caractères de la danse; and the dreaded theatre of the operating room in Marais's "The Bladder Stone Operation"—an unforgettable experience. Old City Music opens the curtain on the lost world of the theatrical salon, in all its diverse magic.

The performers are a superb a group of Baroque strings and winds, led by harpsichordist Leon Schelhase, with Heidi Powell & Richard Hsu, violins; Geoffrey Burgess & Owen Watkins, oboes & recorders; and Boston's own Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba. Here is a rare chance to hear Baroque oboes in an ensemble!

In the photos: Nicolas Lancret, Madamoiselle Camargo Dancing, c. 1730; Leon Schelhase, harpsichordist and director; Laura Jeppesen, viola da gamba soloist.