The festival “Arcadia” will transform Basel into a Renaissance paradise for a magical weekend, where 50 leading specialists in early music come together. Experience a fascinating journey through 11 concerts, a bustling music market, inspiring lectures, and stimulating discussions, as well as a variety of interdisciplinary events centered around botany and Renaissance music in historical performance practice—from the opening round dance to the concluding shepherd's song.
The concerts on the festival's main stage all take place in Martinskirche. The festival opens with the world-famous Profeti della Quinta with a program of madrigals set in Arcadia, depicting nature and the love between nymphs and shepherds. Among them are works by Maddalena Casulana, whose madrigal book is the first printed music by a female composer. In addition to these more traditional musical offerings, ReRenaissance invites you to a round dance on Barfüsserplatz on the Friday before the first main concert, accompanied by bagpipes and other wind instruments, followed by a festive procession past the Münster to Martinskirche.
There will also be a family concert at 11:00 on Saturday that will explore the themes of music and nature. ReRenaissance will host five free 30-minute "flash concerts" featuring emerging ensembles in and around their concert venues throughout the weekend. On Saturday, ReRenaissance will transform the Karthäuserkirche into a forum for early music where experts in historical instrument making from Switzerland and neighboring countries, as well as publishers of books and editions on early music, will come together. On Saturday evening, Le Miroir de Musique presents "Fabula di Orfeo" by Angelo Poliziano. New to the 2025 festival is a late-night concert where the absence of the sun is celebrated with a performance of "The Triumphs of Oriana."
Sunday morning will be celebrated with "Veni in hortum meum," a collection of motets with texts from the Song of Songs, including music from Raphaella Aleotti's 1593 collection, the first sacred music published by a woman. These will be performed with voice, trombones, and cornetts under the direction of Tamsin Cowell and Catherine Motuz. The series of main concerts concludes on Sunday evening with the Danguy Ensemble 's program "A cantar un cantarcillo," which explores the myth of Arcadia on the Iberian Peninsula.
Enjoy all ReRenaissance Festival concerts in a relaxed atmosphere with a festival pass (including program booklet and admission to the Music Museum). With 1% of your ticket price, you support “mein Baum dein Baum” (my tree, your tree), bringing a modern "Arcadia" to Basel. All are invited to join them in celebrating this festival in the spirit of beauty, harmony with nature, and peace.
Tickets for individual concerts are CHF 25-40; festival passes are CHF 110-185. Tickets can be purchased online through https://www.kulturticket.ch/50027/rerenaissance-festival or at Bider & Tanner Basel, Tourist Information Liestal, and Tourist Information Rheinfelden/City Office. Remaining tickets are available at the box office 1 hour before the performance begins.

Website
rerenaissance.ch/events/26-09-25/arcadia/

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