A look back at last Saturday’s stunning performance of Venus and Adonis! 🎻 The University Baroque Ensemble brought this masterpiece to life, filling Hertz Hall with incredible energy and historical resonance. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable showcase of early music.
Additionally, thank you to the panelists who joined us before the concert to help lay out the context and importance of this first English opera.
This Thursday! Come hear some incredible chamber music from our student musicians 🎵 DM us if interested in attending so we can add you to the RSVP list!
The program for our concert this Saturday, April 18th will open with the world premiere of an original composition, “The Birth of Venus”, by UC Berkeley student and University Baroque Ensemble harpsichordist Sekoya Sleeth.
Played before the group’s semi-staged performance of “Venus and Adonis” opera by John Blow, the work utilizes the various baroque instruments to represent the myth behind the birth of Venus.
“It meant a lot to me to write a work to perform with the friends I’ve made within the Baroque ensemble, and knowing who was behind each instrument made it far easier to make the piece come to life,” Sekoya, a graduating senior and Music major, says.
4/18, 8pm at Hertz Hall! Link to purchase tickets in bio 🎶
Check out this behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring the Baroque period to life. Koharu Sakiyama, a student performer and molecular biology major, shares why the intimacy and history of the Baroque violin make this ensemble so special.
Don’t miss the University Baroque Ensemble’s performance of John Blow’s “Venus and Adonis” this Saturday! This concert will feature a special immersive lighting experience that will transform Hertz Hall into stunning mythical landscapes, perfectly capturing the emotional themes of the music.
Also, at 7pm before the performance, University Baroque Ensemble Director David Miller and guest faculty from the English and Classics departments will dive into the Roman myths and Shakespearean influences behind the piece. This panel is free for ticket holders, so be sure to show up early!
Hertz Hall transformed! The University Baroque Ensemble’s upcoming performance of Venus and Adonis on April 18th will feature stunning visual accompaniment brought to life by our Technical Director Brendan West. The performance will also feature a special pre-concert panel that dives into the Roman myths and Shakespearean influences that shaped the first full-length English opera.
Accompanied by musicians from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, this is a performance not to be missed! Get your tickets early at tickets.berkeley.edu.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
7:00 PM: Panel Discussion with Director David H. Miller and guest faculty from English and Classics.
8:00 PM: Performance by the University Baroque Ensemble & musicians from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
