Calendar of Events 2026-27
Autumn Events
Friday, September 25 @ noon
The Rise of Musical Genius in the Englightenment
Music History Lecture with Juilliard DMA candidate Tsutomu William Copeland
What does it mean to call someone "a Mozart?" Why do we still remember the name "Mozart" when so many others have been forgotten by history? What can the present-day fame of Mozart teach us about listening to other music from his time? And, after all is said and done, does Mozart actually deserve to be remembered as the standout musician of his generation?
All these questions and more will be addressed in this introductory lecture on the forgotten music of Mozart's generation, accompanied by plenty of images and sounds from the time. Bagels and coffee will be served.
Friday, September 25 @ 12-2
The Baroque Room: 275 E 4th St. Saint Paul, MN 55101
Monday, September 28 @ 7:00 p.m.
An Evening of Strings and Keys
Baroque music concert with gourmet food and wine pairings
Marc Levine, baroque violin
Tulio Rondón, baroque cello
Tami Morse, harpsichord
An Evening of Strings and Keys is a salon-style concert featuring three of Lyra Baroque Orchestra’s most celebrated artists. In the warm, intimate glow of the Baroque Room, you’ll be just steps from the performers as they bring centuries old masterpieces to life with extraordinary nuance and artistry. Each piece on the program is paired with complementary gourmet bites and wine—an experience that feels less like a concert and more like being welcomed into a private artistic circle.
Monday, September 28 @ 7:00-9:00 p.m.
The Baroque Room: 275 E 4th St. Saint Paul, MN 55101
Saturday, October 17 @ 2:00 p.m.
Exploring the Viola da Gamba and Violone
Educational low-string lecture recital with cheese and wine
Julie Elhard, viola da gamba
Sara Thompson, violone
Join Lyra Baroque Orchestra’s gambist and violone player for a guided tour of the instruments that shaped expressive string playing in the 17th and early 18th centuries. In a salon-style setting, guests will experience the origins, colors, and voices of these remarkable instruments much as listeners did centuries ago: up close, conversationally, and with a sense of shared discovery.
Wine and cheese served.
Saturday, October 17, 2:00-4:00p.m.
The Baroque Room: 275 E 4th St. Saint Paul, MN 55101
November 6, 7, & 8
Classic Constellation: Europe’s Other Mozarts
First Mainstage Concert
In our opening concert, we spotlight brilliant composers of Mozart’s era, who illuminated
different corners of Europe’s musical scene. Thomas Linley’s Overture to The Duenna and
his Violin Concerto reveal a gifted young composer, whose life was tragically cut short, yet
whose talent was deeply cherished by his friend Mozart. Chevalier de St George’s
remarkable life and career shines through his delightful Symphony in G, whilst Mozart’s
Divertimento in F offers a moment of pure joy and grace before we embark on a rather
extraordinary journey at the end of the programme with Kraus’ Symphony in C minor, a
powerful and dramatic work that offers depth and intensity, bringing this constellation of
geniuses to a stirring close.
Performance times:
Friday, November 6 @ 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the American Swedish Institute (2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407) *please note the Friday performance at ASI is not included in a season pass, tickets must be purchased directly through ASI.
Saturday, November 7 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall (1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)
Sunday, November 8 @ 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Mount Olive Church (2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)
*Saturday and Sunday performances of this concert are included in a Lyra Season Pass. Tickets to the Friday performance at ASI must be purchased directly through ASI.
Spring Events
January 8 & 9
Nightwatchman and Royal Table - from Courtly Splendor to Midnight Vigil
Second Mainstage Concert
Lyra Baroque Orchestra invites you into the evocative world of Heinrich Biber. From the
shadowy charm of nocturnal serenades to the opulence of courtly feasts, we bring Biber’s
inventive genius to life. Expect dazzling violin virtuosity, playful dances, and colourful
sonorities, all woven into a captivating evening of music and imagination.
Performance times:
Friday, January 8 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church (512 3rd St SW, Rochester, MN 55902) *Note this venue is different from our usual Rochester venue
Saturday, January 9 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall (1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)
March 5 & 6
Storm, Sunlight and Shadows
Third Mainstage Concert
“Storm, Sunlight and Shadows” invites you on a journey through the emotional landscape of
three masterful quartets. Haydn's Quartet op.20 no.5 evokes dramatic contrasts, while his
“The Dream” Quartet shines with elegance and wit. Finally, Mozart’s Quartet KV 421 draws
us into a world of poignant shadows. With each note, Lyra’s quartet illuminates the shifting
moods from the drama of storms to the warmth of sunlight and the quiet depth of shadows.
Performance times:
Friday, March 5 @ 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall (1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)*
Saturday, March 6 @ 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)*
*note this is opposite our usual schedule
Monday April 26 @ 6:00
Annual Terrace Concert
Lyra's gala concert and silent auction at the American Swedish Institute
The Annual Terrace Concert is Lyra's most important (and beloved!) fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from this night helps support vital needs of the orchestra such as musician fees, venue rentals, staff, and more. Featuring exquisite food and drink by Slate and Stone, inspiring baroque music, a silent auction, friends, and celebration. Support our orchestra by enjoying this beautiful night!
Performance Time:
Monday, April 26 @ 6:00-9:00 p.m. at The American Swedish Institute (2600 Park Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407)
April 30 & May 1
Venezia Stravangatissima - Musical Innovation from the Floating City
Fourth Mainstage Concert
Music by Monteverdi and his contemporaries. Step into the vibrant world of early 17th-century Venice with Venezia Stravagantissima, a time when the new musical language of the Baroque replaced the old one of the Renaissance. Composers such as Monteverdi, Castello and Fontana were pioneering new musical innovations, creating music that stirred the passions, lifted the soul, and emotionally engaged the listener like never before. Experience the groundbreaking music, as we bring to life the daring and inventive spirit of the floating city’s golden age.
Performance Times:
Friday, April 30 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)
Saturday, May 1 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall (1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)
June 11 & 12
A Brilliant Lineage - The Bachs in Concert
Finale Mainstage Concert, presented in partnership with the Twin Cities Early Music Festival
In our season finale programme we celebrate the dazzling musical heritage of one family. JS
Bach’s violin concertos reveal his admiration of Italian composers, Vivaldi in particular, while
CPE Bach’s flute concerto captures a strikingly personal voice. WF Bach’s “Dissonante”
Symphony challenges expectations further with bold harmonic tension. In turn, the “London
Bach”, as JC Bach was known, radiates the refined charm in his Sinfonia Concertante. This
final programme invites you to experience the brilliance, innovation, and intimate emotion
that shaped one of music’s most extraordinary families.
Performance Times:
Friday, June 11 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (2830 18th Ave NW, Rochester, MN 55901)
Saturday, June 12 @ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. at Sundin Music Hall (1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul, MN 55104)*Presented as part of the Twin Cities Early Music Festival