Your ultimate guide to Baroque & Early Music

Live concerts across the UK, plus festivals, artist profiles, news, features, playlists and more.

Detail from the opening page of an early edition of the ‘Messiah’ score, featuring a portrait of George Frideric Handel. The illustration, created by Jacobus Houbraken and Hubert-François Gravelot, is now preserved in the Welsh Portrait Collection at the National Library of Wales (image in public domain; provided by Yale Center for British Art).

The infinite variety of Handel’s ‘Messiah’

Written in just 24 days, Handel's Messiah remains one of the most extraordinary outbursts of white-hot creativity in musical history.

Bellot Ensemble - Se dardo pungente

Video: Bellot Ensemble performs Cavalli's ‘Se dardo pungente’

Lucine Musaelian is accompanied by the BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble in Medea’s dramatic lament from Il Giasone.

Mozart's Travels Playlist

Featured Playlist: Mozart's Travels

In celebration of his 270th birthday year, this playlist traces Mozart's journey across Europe.

What's On

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

Festivals and Concert Series

Established and emerging artists are presenting inspiring programmes in festivals and concert series across the UK.

Fairest Isle Festival
Festival

Fairest Isle Festival

Journey through 16th-18th century music on a magical Island with world-class musicians, sea shanty and barqoue workshops, talks and more.

Barnes Music Festival
Festival

Barnes Music Festival

Annual March festival bringing world-class musicians and local performers together in Barnes, London.

Early Music News

Handpicked news stories from the world of Baroque & Early Music.

London's oldest parish church appoints ‘Medieval Ensemble in Residence’
News

London's oldest parish church appoints ‘Medieval Ensemble in Residence’

St Bartholomew the Great has appointed Rune as its Medieval Ensemble in Residence, with a series of concerts planned for 2026.

three baroque sackbut players blowing down their instruments
News

Brighton Early Music Festival launches 2026 Emerging Artists scheme

The south coast's premiere Early Music festival is now accepting applications for its annual Emerging Artists scheme.

Features

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

Bach’s ‘St John Passion’: balancing human drama and spiritual devotion
Feature

Bach’s ‘St John Passion’: balancing human drama and spiritual devotion

Ashutosh Khandekar sheds light on how Bach’s ‘St John Passion’ combines dramatic urgency, theological depth and evolving performance traditions to remain one of the composer’s most immediate and compelling sacred works.

a woman wearing red lipstick stares past the camera with a mournful look in her eyes
Film

Bellot Ensemble | Cavalli: ‘Se dardo pungente’

‘Se dardo pungente’ is Medea’s strophic lament in Cavalli’s Il Giasone. Alone on stage, she describes love as a wound, an inescapable force that both exalts and consumes.

Elisabetta da Gambarini: A musical force of nature in Georgian London
Feature

Elisabetta da Gambarini: A musical force of nature in Georgian London

Ahead of Academy of Ancient Music’s concert, ‘Gambarini: English Impressaria’, Rachel Stroud reflects on Elisabetta da Gambarini’s remarkable career.

In conversation: Eva Caballero
Spotlight

In conversation: Eva Caballero

Continuo Connect meets flautist Eva Cabellero to find out how she got into the flute what she loves most about Early Music and much more.

Playlist: Women in Music
Playlist

Playlist: Women in Music

Continuo's latest playlist celebrates International Women's Day through tracks by women composers from the 11th century to the present day.

Ensemble Hesperi with Hesperi Voices | Celestial music did the Gods inspire
Film

Ensemble Hesperi with Hesperi Voices | Celestial music did the Gods inspire

Ensemble Hesperi presents a programme inspired by the historic ‘Organ Battle’ at the Temple Church in the 1680s between two leading organ builders of the day, Bernhard Smith and Renatus Harris. Featuring the music of John Blow and Henry Purcell...

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