Jordi Savall and Hespèrion XXI

Time traveler, globe-trotting adventurer, tireless scholar, virtuoso performer, visionary ensemble leader—Jordi Savall is a gift to us all. Joined by his legendary early-music ensemble Hespèrion XXI, the Cal Performances favorite explores 100 years of history through music in this fascinating new program. The ensemble travels between the courts and courtyards of Naples, Venice, Rome, Milan, and London, performing works by Emilio de’ Cavalieri, Vincenzo Ruffo, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Andrea Falconiero, and others. We may not know exactly where Savall will lead us as he mines the past for treasures that illuminate new connections between historic people and places, cultures, and movements, but we are always thrilled to come along for the ride. “At this stage of a varied and luminous career, each new risk taken by Mr. Savall—and each moment that he and his ensemble are playing—can still feel like a cultural experience worth the journey” (The New York Times).