BSR Classical Interludes: November 2025

Tempesta di Mare: Hidden Virtuosas: Symposium & Salon and Agata’s Cantata
Symposium & Salon
Saturday, November 1, 6pm
FringeArts Theatre & Bar, 140 North Columbus Boulevard

Agata’s Cantata
Friday, November 7 and Saturday, November 8, 7pm
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 23 South 38th Street

Continuing a years-long project, Philadelphia’s renowned baroque orchestra will present several immersive events delving into the music and musicians of Venice’s 18th century ospedali. A symposium and salon (November 1) will portray the history of the remarkable women who lived and worked in these institutions, like singer and composer Agata Cantora della Pietà and violinist Anna Maria del Violino (musicians were known by first names only). The following week, the ensemble will present the US premiere of a rare work, Agata’s Ecce nunc, with performers initially hidden by a screen—like their Venetian counterparts. The concert features the Tempesta orchestra, Laura Heimes (soprano), Gabriela Estephanie Solis (mezzo), and the Choir of Girard College (directed by Paul Eaton), with projections and lights by Midnight Productions.

Philadelphia Chamber Music Society: Jasper Quartet
Sunday, November 2, 3pm
American Philosophical Society, 427 Chestnut Street

After wowing audiences at the Skaneateles Festival this summer, Philadelphia’s Jasper Quartet is now celebrating its 20th season. J Freivogel and Karen Kim (violins), Andrew Gonzalez (viola), and cellist Rachel Henderson Freivogel will be joined by flutist Julietta Curenton for a concert that includes Britten’s Three Divertimenti; Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout by Gabriela Lena Frank; the US premiere of All the Blues I See by Errollyn Wallen (who in 2024 was appointed by Britain’s King Charles as Master of the King’s Music); and Music Op. 27 for Flute and Viola, a world premiere PCMS commission by Roger Stubblefield.

Network for New Music: West Chester Partners
Thursday, November 6, 7:30pm
West Chester University/Ware Recital Hall, 817 South High Street, West Chester

Sunday, November 9, 3pm
Settlement Music School/Germantown Branch, 6128 Germantown Avenue

Network for New Music, now in its second year as contemporary ensemble in residence at West Chester University, will feature three compositions by university music faculty: Adam Silverman’s That Radiant Outburst (for clarinet, cello, marimba, and piano); Ari Sussman’s not say a word (for solo piano, performed by Charles Abramovic); and Mark Rimple’s Nonstandard Deviations (for bass clarinet, electric guitar, and cello), a Network commission world premiere. The ensemble will also read and record four pieces by West Chester composition students. Admission at WCU is free (reservations suggested) but the Philadelphia concert is ticketed.

Penn Live Arts: Twelfth Night
Thursday, November 6, 7pm
St. Mary’s Church, 3916 Locust Walk

This is the Philadelphia premiere of Twelfth Night, an early music ensemble (inspired by Shakespeare’s play of the same name) that reimagines Baroque operatic and instrumental masterpieces. Noted for their virtuosity and spirit of revelry, here six instrumentalists, directed by violinist Rachell Ellen Wong and harpsichordist David Belkovski, will be joined by soprano Nicoletta Berry for All'Italiana, exploring the influence of Italy’s musical greats. The concert includes Handel’s Armida abbandonata, along with works by Fasch, Telemann, Durante, and Vivaldi.

Tri-County Concerts: Luosha Fang and Arseniy Gusev
Sunday, November 9, 3pm
Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Road, Devon

The second concert in this presenter’s current Emerging Artist series features Luosha Fang (violin) and Arseniy Gusev (piano) in a concert filled with classical heavyweights: Liszt, Schumann, Fauré, Kreisler, Schubert, and others. Chinese native Fang, the winner of multiple competitions who has performed worldwide, attended Curtis and now teaches at Bard. Gusev (born in St. Petersburg) began studying music at the age of five. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute, a master’s in composition from Yale, and is currently studying at Juilliard as a pianist.