Henry VIII’s flagship the Mary Rose sank in 1545 with a chest full of instruments on board. We talk with polymaths Allison Monroe and Peter Walker about telling the ship’s story through music alongside featured performances from medieval ensemble Trobár.

SalonEra shoots for the stars in this episode, guest-curated by violinist Shelby Yamin. With insights from astronomer Dr. Juan Lora, lutenist Charles Weaver, and cellist Léonie Adams of the Dionysus Ensemble, we explore the musical world of Galileo Galilei and his father, composer Vincenzo Galilei and the fascinating life and music of 18th-century astronomer and composer William Herschel.

Enjoy performance clips and intriguing background information on Les Délices' 2022-23 Season Closer Isabella's Renaissance.

In this episode, SE favorite Karin Cuellar-Rendon and the Ximenez Quartet trace the early nationbuilding efforts of 19th-century Latin American composers Pedro Ximénez Abril Tirado (Bolivia-Peru), José Bernardo Alzedo (Chile), and Chiquinha Gonzaga (Brazil) who integrated elements of the European classical tradition with local musical genres.

Enjoy performance clips and intriguing background information on Les Délices' Enchanted Island program.

SalonEra partners with GRAMMY-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan to probe the question “Is Bach’s music for everyone?” Drawing on tenor arias and interviews captured for Phan’s BACH 52 project, Nicholas, Debra Nagy, and a range of community members reckon with the complex social history of Bach’s music as well as its enduring resonance in their lives.

Guest Curator Jean Bernard Cerin traces the history of the Haitian Creole song “Lisette quitté la plaine” and explores how its meaning is transformed by different musical communities as it travels around the globe, becoming a lens through which we can explore the dynamic, fraught history of Haiti and its occupiers.

SE highlights queer artists working in the realm of Baroque opera, delving into how issues of representation, community, and queer love are reflected in the plots and vocal writing of 17th and 18th century works for the stage.

In this special re-broadcast from SalonEra Season 2, Ottoman music enthusiast and multi-instrumentalist Daphna Mor guest curates an exploration of musical connections between east and west.