Baroque Festival Set for June to Feature Music of Henry Purcell

The 15th annual Corona del Mar Baroque Festival--which will begin June 4 at 4 p.m. at St. Michael and All Angels Church, 3233 Pacific View Drive--will emphasize the music of Henry Purcell, in observance of the 300th anniversary of the British composer’s death.

Purcell’s music will be played at each of the series’ five concerts. The opening concert also will include a Concerto for Archlute and String orchestra by Michael Eagan, which was commissioned by the festival. Festival director Burton Karson will conduct.

The series will continue:

* June 5 at 8 p.m. at the church, with organist Craig Phillips and bassoonist William Wood playing works by Purcell, Bach, Buxtehude and Mendelssohn;

* June 7 at 8 p.m. at the Sherman Library and Gardens, 2645 E. Coast Highway, with music from Purcell’s “Timon of Athens� as staged by Todd Muffatti, with soprano Jennifer Foster Smith, countertenor Alejandro Garri, tenor Mark Goodrich and baritone Aram Barsamian;

* June 9 at 8 p.m. at the library, with chamber music of Bach and Purcell played by flutist Louise Di Tullio, violinist Clayton Haslop, cellist Timonthy Landauer and harpsichordist Gabriel Arrequi; and

* June 11 at 4 p.m. at the church with Purcell’s “Come Ye Sons of Art� and Bach’s Cantata No. 16 (“Herr Gott, dich loben wir�).

Series tickets are $70. Tickets for individual concerts, as available, will be $25 for the Sunday programs at the church, $10 for the Monday organ recital at the church and $30 for the programs at the library.

Information: (714) 760-7887.