Arcadia Players - Early Music Performances in the Pioneer Valley
Live local performances of the diverse musical legacy of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Our Next Concert
A Parisian Salon, c. 1760
Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Wistariahurst Museum, Holyoke, MA
Arcadia Players presents a Parisian Salon, c. 1760 with harpsichordist Andrus Madsen. This concert takes us into the realm of the culturally elite Parisian women who hosted salons that were centers of music, literary, and philosophical discussion. Andrus will play a copy of an instrument built in 1769 by the most beloved Parisian harpsichord builder, Pascal Taskin. The Taskin harpsichord has a generous, sonorous and rich sound that favors color over clarity. Composers like Couperin, Duphly, and Forqueray wrote music for this instrument that leans deeply into creating color and sonority rather than focusing on counterpoint. All of this music for the salon comes with pithy titles aimed at generating discussion and evoking literary, philosophical or political connections.
More This Season
Music for Voices and Viols from 17th C England
Dowland, Gibbons, Purcell and others
Combining music and poetry at Edwards Church, Northampton, MA
Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 5:00
Handel & Porpora — Rivals Paired
Handel's mighty Messiah comes up against the work of his main rival, Nicola Porpora -- in two locations!
Friday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 (Longmeadow) and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3:00 (South Hadley)
17th Century Masterworks by Hans Leo Hassler
Featuring the Fisk Organ at Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
Saturday, January 30, 2027 at 3:00
About Arcadia Players
Arcadia Players presents the broad and diverse heritage of 16th, 17th and 18th century vocal and instrumental music through public performance with period instruments and historical performance practices.
The professional ensemble presents live concerts and programs at venues throughout the Connecticut Valley in western Massachusetts. Programs include chamber music, opera, orchestral and vocal repertoire from the Renaissance to the Classical eras.
Check out the 2026-27 concert season - five amazing musical programs in six local locations!
