From 1717 to 1718, George Frideric Handel was resident composer for the Duke of Chandos, a wealthy nobleman in Sussex. When King George I commissioned the Water Music, Handel was at work on the eleven Chandos Anthems for the Duke's private chapel. We present three of the finest: Let God Arise, O Praise the Lord with One Consent, and As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams.

To mark the holiday season, we feature the delightful music of 17th-century French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. In his day, Charpentier was overshadowed by the more forceful and better-connected Jean-Baptiste Lully, but modern audiences are discovering the charms of his music. We are pleased to present a selection of motets and instrumental noëls composed in celebration of the Nativity.

Renowned for his keyboard sonatas, Domenico Scarlatti is less well known for his exquisite vocal works. We present the achingly beautiful Stabat Mater which expresses Mary's sorrow as she witnesses the crucifixion. We contrast this with a dramatic cantata by Scarlatti's contemporary Alessandro Stradella. L'anime del Purgatorio is comprised of florid arias, instrumental interludes both lively and languid, and gracefully contrapuntal choruses.

In 1705, Johann Sebastian Bach, organist of the Neue Kirche in Arnstadt, walked to Lübeck to meet the great North German composer and organist Dietrich Buxtehude. Bach made the 300-mile pilgrimage to study Buxtehude's music and to attend his famous Abendmusik concerts. In our final program of the season we perform cantatas by both composers: Buxtehude's Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott (BuxWV 78) together with Bach's Der Herr denket an uns (BWV 196) and Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (BWV 39), which dates from the Leipzig years. The choir is joined by a consort of recorders, oboes, strings, and continuo, and Bay Area soprano Rita Lilly.