Joseph Sargent

Despite a funding setback, Gold Coast Chamber Players still hosts the Amati Ensemble from the Netherlands for a rich chamber concert in Lafayette.

To fete Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra’s 30th season, it is mounting a new, enhanced version of Haydn’s profound oratorio, including some of the original vocal ornamentation from 1798.

Any singer who has performed Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis can attest that this is one piece not for the faint of heart. It therefore takes some gumption to tackle this work, yet this is precisely the challenge adopted by the 100-voice Cantare Chorale, led by David Morales.

In its upcoming concert set, Magnificat brings on the drama in a staging of Orazio Vecchi’s madrigal comedy L’Amfiparnaso (The Twin Peaks of Parnassus), a collaboration with three theater artists from the Dell’Arte Company for what’s sure to be a high-spirited affair.

In a performance by a trimmed-down San Francisco Symphony on Saturday, it was hard not to get caught up in the invigorating presence of conductor Ton Koopman, who coaxed phrases out of his performers like a magician pulling handkerchiefs out of a hat.

It’s probably safe to say that few classical musicians work harder than Jeffrey Kahane. Now, this multitalented musician is launching a recital tour with British violinist Daniel Hope, which kicks off Feb. 10.

There's a powerful magnetism about a great professional countertenor, a singer who exhibits both fantastic vocal range and crystalline purity of tone. David Daniels has built an impressive career as a countertenor, with luscious tone and careful craftsmanship among his assets, as demonstrated in Philharmonia Baroque’s lively program on Saturday.

The New Esterházy Quartet's performance — the third iteration of the ensemble’s “Dedicated to Haydn” series — demonstrated camaraderie, marked above all by exceptional unity of purpose and total commitment to the group's interpretive schemes.

The venues may range from hither to yon, but the early-music concerts on offer this season around the Bay Area will field a dazzling array of stars and novel musical experiences.