Baroque Ensemble Musica Transalpina Presents Vocal Gems from Early Tudor England at Sierra Madre Playhouse, 8/23

Presented by Sierra Madre Playhouse

Musica Transalpina, one of Southern California’s premier baroque instrumental and vocal ensembles, brings to life rarely heard vocal gems from early Tudor England – an age of luminous music, stunning architecture, and glimmering art – on Saturday, August 23, 2025, 7:30 pm, at Sierra Madre Playhouse. 

Led by Musical Director Bryan Roach, the program centers on Missa O bone Jhesu by Robert Fayrfax, which was commissioned by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Henry VIII. The mass survives in three choir books compiled around 1515, 1520, and 1525, a time when English music was renowned on the Continent for its refinement and characteristic “sweetness.”

Musica Transalpina, noted for its historically informed performances of baroque sacred music, reimagines these works with fresh spirit and emotional power. The hushed intimacy of Sierra Madre Playhouse offers the perfect setting to experience the ensemble’s powerful musical interpretations with a sound that is at once centuries old and completely alive in the present moment.

Featured artists include Anna Schubert, treble; William Duffey, mean; Dr. R. Matthew Brown, contra tenor; Luc Kleiner, tenor; John Buffett, bass; and Sean Maxwell, organist.

For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Date:
Venue:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Organization:
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Genres:
Classical
Early Music/Baroque
Categories:
Live Event
City: Sierra Madre
Price Range:
12-35
Email:
info@sierramadreplayhouse.org
Phone:
(626) 355-4318
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Sierra Madre Playhouse

Sierra Madre Playhouse

87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
United States

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Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating live performances. 

 

Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los Angeles), it has garnered tremendous accolades for its varied repertoire and thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing arts center presenting a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional artists, the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. 

 

The intimate 99-seat Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to performances that resonate deeply, earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. In 2023, Rep. Judy Chu named the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in the San Gabriel Valley. The playhouse was given the honor during the 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards, which recognizes the leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California’s 28th Congressional District. It is nestled into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 

 

Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture emporium to silent movie theatre to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding.