Madison Early Music Festival

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Sophia Hegewald

A blurry image of Verità Baroque.

Verità Baroque

After a few years off, the Madison Early Music Festival is back, and this is excellent news for anyone who loves the colors, quirks and craftsmanship of Baroque music. Verità Baroque takes center stage on opening night with a stormy, heartfelt program of Vivaldi, Telemann and Quantz, plus brand-new works written in conversation with the past. There’s also a gallery performance at the Chazen, a lecture-recital connecting Quantz to Schrödinger’s physics — early music folks have range — and a family concert that gives kids an actual on-ramp into this world. It all wraps with a student showcase and Baroque dance, reminding us early music isn't dusty, it’s alive, physical, and remarkably vibrant. Find the full schedule below and tickets at memf.wisc.edu.

media release: The 2026 Madison Early Music Festival (MEMF) celebrates over 20 years of excellence in early music while inaugurating a new chapter. Since its founding in 2000, MEMF has been a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s musical landscape, bringing international artists, scholars, and students together to explore historical repertoire through concerts, performance classes, and community engagement. The 2026 revival honors this legacy while expanding the festival into an immersive, interdisciplinary experience—uniting Baroque music, dance, visual art, and innovation.

Led by Verità Baroque, the festival features iconic works by Vivaldi, Telemann, and Marais alongside daring collaborations with live electronics, experimental sound, and contemporary composition. Visitors will encounter interactive performances at the Chazen Museum, Baroque dance reimagined, and lectures linking historical tuning systems with modern physics.

A highlight of community outreach will be the Interactive Educational Family Concert, beginning with a Baroque Instruments Petting Zoo and continuing with a story-driven musical journey led by Dr. Zeynep Alpan—designed to inspire curiosity and connect audiences of all ages with the expressive world of Baroque music.

MEMF 2026 unites music, dance, and visual art, revitalizing the interconnected spirit of the Baroque era in a fully multisensory festival that honors tradition while looking to the future.

Buy tickets to performances or apply to participate in workshops and classes.

Single event tickets: Full price: $35; Senior: $30; Students: Free (ticket required)

Weekend pass (includes one ticket to all three ticketed events): Full Price: $90; Senior: $75; Student: Free (tickets required)

MEMF 2026 Schedule of Events

The Storm of Emotions – Verità Baroque: Friday, January 23, 2026, 7:30 pm, Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center Purchase tickets

Immersive Art Experience with Verità Baroque: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11 am, Chazen Art Museum. Free | No ticket required

Quantz & Physics Lecture Recital: Saturday, January 24, 2026, 7:30 pm, Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center Purchase tickets

Interactive Educational Family Concert: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 11 am, Lee/Kaufman Rehearsal Hall, Hamel Music Center. Free | Ticket required (tickets available soon)

Student Showcase Concert & Dance Performance: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 7:30 pm, Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center Purchase tickets