2025/26 Season
- Markus Passion
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July 12 2025
Lost for centuries, J.S. Bach’s Markus Passion returns in a powerful new production by Concert Theatre Works, co-presented in a Pacific Northwest tour by Portland Baroque Orchestra and Oregon Bach Festival. This groundbreaking “pocket passion” features four singers, a narrator, and a small period orchestra—including two gambas and two lutes—and runs a focused 80 minutes.
Featuring celebrated actor Joseph Marcell (Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), this dramatized reconstruction restores a long-lost cornerstone of Bach’s Passion settings. Believed to have vanished after Bach’s death in 1750, the Markus Passion is brought back to life with an authoritative edition by Malcolm Bruno, published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
This intimate production—adapted and directed by Bill Barclay and produced by Concert Theatre Works—reimagines Bach’s Markus Passion for modern audiences, blending music and theater to stunning effect. The Pacific Northwest performances will be led by PBO’s own Julian Perkins.
Don’t miss this historic musical resurrection—an emotionally charged, theatrically rich performance of one of Bach’s lost treasures, finally unveiled.
Additional performances in our region include:
- July 11 in Eugene, OR (Tickets handled by Oregon Bach Festival)
- July 13 in Seattle, WA (Tickets handled by Early Music Seattle).PBO’s Press Release about Markus Passion
Press Mentions
Early Music America: Getting Creative: a New Bach Passion & Vivaldi ‘Seasons’ Opera
WQED Pittsburgh: Bringing Bach’s “Markus Passion” to Life | A World Premiere in Pittsburgh
Choir & Organ: Towards a Markus-Passion
Featured Artists
Music Performed
- Ground Bass: Pachelbel & Handel
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Julian Perkins
October 18 2025 - October 19 2025
A few repeating notes. Infinite possibilities. PBO explores how Baroque composers built entire musical worlds upon a ground bass—the steady heartbeat of their music. Beginning with Purcell’s delicate chamber works and Pachelbel’s iconic Canon in D, the program expands into the vibrant orchestral textures of Muffat, Albinoni, Vivaldi, and Handel.
Whether playful, elegant, or profound, these pieces remind us that repetition is not stagnation but a foundation for endless invention.
Join us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsor:
Susan Bach
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Johann Pachelbel
Canon & Gigue in D Major -
Henry Purcell
Curtain Tune upon a Ground from Timon of Athens -
George Frideric Handel
Suite from Rodrigo in B-flat Major -
Antonio Vivaldi
Paris Concerto No 1 for strings in G Minor
Music Performed
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- Cupid's Arrow: Strozzi, Frescobaldi & Scarlatti
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Julian Perkins
October 24 2025
Love and longing take center stage in this enchanting program of Baroque treasures. Curated by the radiant soprano Arwen Myers and fan-favorite John Lenti, this program explores passion and heartache through the music of Barbara Strozzi, Biagio Marini, and Alessandro Scarlatti.
Grounded by exquisite passacaglias from Frescobaldi and Biber, this intimate performance—woven with lute, theorbo, and harpsichord promises a journey of deep emotion and stunning virtuosity.
Join us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsor:
Featured Artists:
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Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677)
“Amor dormiglione”, Opus 2.22 -
Girolamo Frescobaldi
Cento partite sopra Passacagli -
Alessandro Scarlatti
"La Pazzia, Ovvero la Stravaganza" -
Biagio Marini
"Vieni licori"
Music Performed
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- All Ages Concert
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Julian Perkins
November 15 2025 - November 16 2025
Revel in the rich sonorities of two harpsichords in lively conversation, showcasing the wit and virtuosity of J.S. Bach and his son C.P.E. Bach. Anchored by Lully’s stately Passacaille, the program unfolds with Telemann’s vibrant Ouverture Suite, playfully bridging Baroque complexity and early Classical elegance.
The centerpiece: two sparkling harpsichord concertos—C.P.E.’s bold and unpredictable Concerto in F Major and J.S. Bach’s dramatic Concerto in C Minor. A rare performance of dueling keyboards bursting with energy, contrast, and sheer musical brilliance.
Join us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsor:
Robert D. Geddes
Featured Artists:
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Georg Philipp Telemann
Ouverture Suite in B-flat Major -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for two harpsichords in C Minor -
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Concerto for two harpischords in F Major
Music Performed
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- Father vs. Son Two Bachs & Two Harpsichords
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Julian Perkins
November 15 2025 - November 16 2025Revel in the rich sonorities of two harpsichords in lively conversation, showcasing the wit and virtuosity of J.S. Bach and his son C.P.E. Bach. Anchored by Lully’s stately Passacaille, the program unfolds with Telemann’s vibrant Ouverture Suite, playfully bridging Baroque complexity and early Classical elegance.
The centerpiece: two sparkling harpsichord concertos—C.P.E.’s bold and unpredictable Concerto in F Major and J.S. Bach’s dramatic Concerto in C Minor. A rare performance of dueling keyboards bursting with energy, contrast, and sheer musical brilliance.
Join us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsor:
Robert D. Geddes
Featured Artists:
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Jean-Baptiste Lully
Passacaille for Armide -
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Concerto for two harpischords in F Major -
Georg Philipp Telemann
Ouverture Suite in B-flat Major -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for two harpsichords in C Minor
Music Performed
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- Handel's Messiah 2025
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Jos van Veldhoven
December 11 2025 - December 14 2025
Celebrate the season with the glorious sounds of Messiah! Handel’s beloved oratorio comes to life once more, performed on exquisite period instruments just as it was meant to be heard. From the triumphant Hallelujah to the soaring arias and stirring choruses, this is Messiah in its full, breathtaking splendor.
Under the dynamic guest direction of Jos van Veldhoven, appearing courtesy of Oregon Bach Festival, this year’s performance promises to be an unforgettable musical event. With world-class soloists and the vibrant debut of Portland Baroque Voices infusing every note with passion, power, and soul-stirring emotion, this Messiah will be a truly transcendent experience.
Concerts Sponsors:
Featured Artists:
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George Frideric Handel
Messiah
Music Performed
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- Shadows and Light: French Baroque from Rameau to Couperin
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Julian Perkins
Experience the shifting moods of night and day through the rich textures of French Baroque music. PBO principal bassoonist Nate Helgeson curates an evocative program featuring two violas da gamba, two bassoons, harpsichord, and theorbo.
Inspired by the sensations of dusk and dawn, this cinematic program moves from shimmering starlight to the warmth of sunrise —and the dreams in between— revealing the impressionistic beauty and sensuality of Baroque music in a whole new light.
2025/26 Season Brochure
Spring 2026 Program
Shadows and Light InsertJoin us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsors:
Bill Dolan & Susan Bromschwig
Vi Metzler
Featured Artists:
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Jean-Philippe Rameau (arr. Helgeson/Hese)
Suite d'Opéra -
Pancrace Royer
Le Vertigo -
Marin Marais
Les Voix Humaines -
Antoine Forqueray
La Jupiter
Music Performed
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- Bach's Goldberg Variations
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Julian Perkins
February 14 2026 - February 15 2026
A single melody. Eight repeating notes. Thirty variations of pure genius. Performed by Julian Perkins on the double-manual harpsichord, as originally envisioned, Bach’s Goldberg Variations come alive in an intimate recital. This 75-minute masterpiece unfolds from playful dances and intricate canons to the majestic splendor of a central French overture, culminating in a luminous final song.
Often hailed as the “Musical Everest” of keyboard literature, this performance offers a unique opportunity to experience the Goldbergs as they were meant to be heard—live, intimate, and deeply moving.
This performance will not feature an intermission.
2025/26 Season Brochure
Spring 2026 ProgramJoin us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsor:
Katherine H. O’Neil & John Paul Graff
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations
Music Performed
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- Hidden Women of Rome: Lost Music of Sacred Divas
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Julian Perkins
March 14 2026 - March 15 2026
Step into the opulent world of 17th-century Rome, where rebellious Queen Christina of Sweden championed musical brilliance in both the court and the convent. This program unveils the sensational, operatic sacred works sung by virtuosic nuns—music long hidden behind cloistered walls.
Alongside instrumental gems by Corelli and Scarlatti, modern premieres of Alessandro Melani’s vocal works—unheard for over 300 years—bring to life a legacy of mystery, power, and divine brilliance. Experience the soaring voices of extraordinary women (brought to you by Portland Baroque Voices), silenced by history, now restored to their rightful place in the musical canon.
2025/26 Season Brochure
Spring 2026 ProgramJoin us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
Concert Sponsors:
Katherine Pease & John Saurenman
Featured Artists
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Alessandro Scarlatti
Sonata à 4 No. 4 in D Minor -
Alessandro Melani
Magnificat a 6 -
Alessandro Melani
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel a 6 -
Bernardo Pasquini
Sinfonia a quarto -
Arcangelo Corelli
Trio sonata in D Major
Music Performed
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- All Roads Lead to Mozart
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Julian Perkins
April 11 2026 - April 12 2026
To close the season, we trace the ground bass through creative composers like Gluck, Handel, and Michael Haydn as we strum our way to the young prodigy who would redefine early music. Gluck’s Sinfonia in F Major opens the program with elegance and drama, setting the stage for the intricate brilliance of Handel’s Passacaille from Radamisto.
Michael Haydn, often overshadowed by his more famous brother, steps into the spotlight with his Sinfonia in G Major from Applausus, showcasing the sparkling energy that undoubtedly caught Mozart’s ear. Virtuosic horns and strings shine throughout, leading to a triumphant finale with Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major. This joyful season finale is a testament to the enduring dialogue between composers across generations.
Concert Sponsor:
Jas. Adams & Diane Rosenbaum
Bill & Jackie Willingham
2025/26 Season Brochure
Spring 2026 ProgramJoin us one hour before the performance for a pre-concert talk about the program. Learn more here.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento in D Major -
George Frideric Handel
Passacaille from Radamisto -
Johann Michael Haydn
Sinfonia in G Major, Applausus -
Christoph Willibald Gluck
Sinfonia in F Major
Music Performed
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