Monday, March 29, 7 p.m.

"Voices of Venice and Rome"
Choral Music of Allegri, Palestrina, and Gabrieli
Rose Ensemble and Voces 8
Tonight we bring you highlights of a recent Twin Cities concert devoted to masters of the Italian Renaissance. Featured composers include Allegri, Gabrieli, and Palestrina (movements from his Pope Marcellus Mass).

Thursday, April 1, 11 a.m.

Performance Today
Brumel: "Lamentations"
Haydn: "Symphony No. 26 in D Minor, Lamentatione"
Performance Today marks Maundy Thursday with a pair of musical lamentations: We'll hear the talented all-female choir In Mulieribus perform Brumel from a live concert in their hometown, Portland, Ore. in additon to Haydn performed by the Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Thursday, April 1, 7 p.m.

Dominick Argento: "Evensong: Of Love and Angels"
VocalEssence
Philip Brunelle, conductor
This performance was the Midwest premiere of Dominick Argento's large-scale choral work, written in memory of his late wife, as well as to note the 100th anniversary of the National Cathedral in Washington.

Friday, April 2, 11 a.m.

Performance Today
Gesualdo: "Tenebrae Responsories"
Haydn: "Symphony No. 49 in F Minor, Pasione," selections from "Messiah"
Carlos Gesualdo wrote his Tenebrae Responsories for the last three days of Lent and they are haunting both in the beauty of the music and in the knowledge of Gesualdo's own personal tragedy. The English Consort will play Haydn's "Pasione" Symphony and highlights from Messiah are performed by the Akademie fur Alta Musik, live in concert in Berlin.

Friday, April 2, 1 p.m.

Bach: "St. Matthew Passion"
Soloists; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, St. Thomas Choir Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
Bach wrote his "St. Matthew Passion," universally ranked as one of the summits of Western music, while living in the city of Leipzig. This recording, which has just been released, Riccardo Chailly leads the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Choir of St. Thomas Church, where Bach himself worked.

Friday, April 2, 8 p.m.

Minnesota Orchestra
Tavener: The Protecting Veil
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
Osmo V&änskä, conductor; Steven Isserlis, cello
This Minnesota Orchestra concert, recorded at the Saint Paul Cathedral, offers Tavener's reflective piece for meditation on the evening of Good Friday.

Sunday, April 4, 12 p.m.

Saint Paul Sunday
St. Olaf Choir - Bill McGlaughlin welcomes the celebrated St. Olaf Choir and its conductor, Anton Armh1, into the Saint Paul Sunday studio this week for a special Easter program spanning five centuries. We'll hear music of Palestrina, Billings, Gretchaninoff, Copland, and two of the choir's former conductors: founder F. Melius Christiansen and noted living composer Kenneth Jennings.

Sunday, April 4, 1 p.m.

Handel: "Messiah"
Soloists: Rosemary Joshua, soprano; David Daniels, countertenor; Alan Bennett, tenor; Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone Chorus: La Chapelle de Quebec
Orchestra: Les Violons du Roy
Conductor: Bernard Labadie
(rec. Carnegie Hall, Dec. 2009)
Although it's come to be associated with Christmas, Handel originally wrote Messiah to be performed in the Easter season. This Carnegie Hall performance features one of North America's leading baroque ensembles.

Sunday, April 4, 9 p.m.

Pipedreams
In this program of music for Eastertide, Michael Barone explores the celebratory and contemplative scores inspired by the energy of the springtime festival of rebirth.