Music Before 1800

06/08/2026

Hear Artistic Director Robby Meese talk Music Before 1800 with host Charlie Kusiel on WKCR-FM :::

06/02/2026

This Friday, June 5 on WKCR-FM, revisit one of the highlights of our season: 'Edinburgh Rollick,' featuring Ruckus Early Music with violinist Keir GoGwilt and vocalist Fiona Gillespie, in a genre-blending performance that weaves together Corelli’s sonatas with the jubilant, hard-driving and nostalgic tunes of Scottish fiddle legend Niel Gow.

🗓️ Friday, June 5 at 10AM
🎧 WKCR 89.9 FM or online via the link below

https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr

06/01/2026

This upcoming season is a vibrant celebration of early music, bringing centuries of musical heritage to life. MB1800 Artistic Director Robby Meese has curated an extraordinary lineup celebrating the rich traditions of Spanish, Italian, and Latin American music from the 1300s on.

Our 52nd season includes the return of series favorites, such as Paul O’Dette, the Boston Camerata, Música Temprana, and Juilliard415, along with the American debut of Rome-based Música Antiqua Latina, and the founding concert of The Helicon Ensemble, New York’s new Baroque orchestra.

Subscriptions are now on sale, and single event tickets go on sale on July 1! To explore more and purchase your Season 52 subscription, visit MB1800.org

RELIC ensemble
Helicon
Musica Antiqua Latina
ModernMedieval Voices
Música Temprana
The Boston Camerata
The Juilliard School

05/29/2026

Join us this Sunday, May 31 for 'Levantine Rhapsody'! Turkish kanun virtuoso Didem Başar leads an ensemble of acclaimed musicians in a vibrant celebration of Eid al-Adha, with a program that blends Turkish and Western classical traditions in a captivating cross-cultural musical exchange.

Co-presented with The World Music Institute.

For tickets and more information, visit:
https://www.mb1800.org/concerts/levantine-rhapsody

🗓️ Sunday, May 31 – 5:00 PM
📍 Corpus Christi Church
🎟️ MB1800 website

05/27/2026

We're always excited when Music Before 1800 is on one of our favorite shows – Millennium of Music. Hear Vox Luminis' Corpus Christi concert from fall '24 at the link below.

As always, big thanks to host Robert Aubry Davis!

►🎶 LISTEN NOW: The superb Belgian ensemble presented “A German Baroque Requiem” last season in the great New York early music series, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

05/27/2026

We can't wait for Sunday! Tickets are still available!

05/26/2026

This Sunday, May 31, Turkish kanun virtuoso Didem Başar leads an ensemble of acclaimed musicians in a vibrant celebration of Eid al-Adha. Blending Turkish and Western classical traditions, the program explores the rich colors of Turkish maqams, intricate rhythmic patterns, and the art of improvisation in a captivating cross-cultural musical exchange.

'Levantine Rhapsody' features:
Didem Başar – Direction, Composition, Kanun
Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy, violoncelliste & compositeur – Cello
Guy Pelletier – Bass Flute and Transverse Flute
Patrick Graham Percussionist – Percussion

Co-presented with The World Music Institute

For tickets and more information, visit MB1800.org:
https://www.mb1800.org/concerts/levantine-rhapsody

🗓️ Sunday, May 31 – 5:00 PM
📍 Corpus Christi Church
🎟️ MB1800 website

05/22/2026

A few of the many beautiful moments with our early music community at our 51st Season Benefit, which honored legendary soprano and scholar Julianne Baird, and featured a special performance by acclaimed musicians, Jonathan Woody, Bass-Baritone and lutenist Adam Cockerham!

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us in support of Music Before 1800 and another season of extraordinary music. Thank you!

05/21/2026

'Levantine Rhapsody' is coming up on Sunday, May 31! To celebrate the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha, Turkish kanun virtuoso Didem Başar intertwines two influences: Turkish and Western classical music. The dialogue is enriched by Turkish maqams (modes), ornate rhythmic cycles and astonishing improvisation, blended with compositions that have a distinctly impressionist approach.

A quartet of artists familiar to MB1800 from the beloved Constantinople programs distinguish our series in its embrace of early musics from around the world:

Didem Başar – Direction, Composition, Kanun
Guy Pelletier – Bass Flute and Transverse Flute
Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy, violoncelliste & compositeur – Cello
Patrick Graham Percussionist – Percussion

Co-presented with The World Music Institute

For tickets, visit:
https://www.mb1800.org/concerts/levantine-rhapsody

🗓️ Sunday, May 31 – 5:00 PM
📍 Corpus Christi Church
🎟️ MB1800 website

05/20/2026

Ahead of her May 31 performance, we’re spotlighting Didem Başar’s acclaimed album Levantine Rhapsody, which was awarded the 2021 Prix Opus for World Music Album of the Year!

The music intertwines two influences: Turkish and Western classical music, enriched by Turkish maqams (modes), ornate rhythmic cycles and astonishing improvisation, and blended with compositions that have a distinctly impressionist approach.

Join us as a quartet of artists familiar to MB1800 from the beloved Constantinople programs distinguish our series in its embrace of early musics from around the world:

Didem Başar – Direction, Composition, Kanun
Guy Pelletier – Bass Flute and Transverse Flute
Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy, violoncelliste & compositeur – Cello
Patrick Graham Percussionist – Percussion

'Levantine Rhapsody' is co-presented with the World Music Institute.

For tickets, visit MB1800.org:
https://www.mb1800.org/concerts/levantine-rhapsody

🗓️ Sunday, May 31 – 5:00 PM
📍 Corpus Christi Church
🎟️ MB1800.org