Stockholm Early Music Festival (SEMF)

Stockholm Early Music Festival is the largest international event in the Nordic countries for baroque, renaissance and medieval music. With variation and quality as its motto the festival highlights the diversity of early music, offering a programme of known and unknown music from all over the world, featuring well-renowned Swedish and international artists. 

The festival, founded and led by Peter Pontvik, has been held annually in the historical setting of Stockholm’s Old Town since 2002, in the special summer atmosphere of early June. The programme includes lunch, afternoon, and evening concerts, seminars and masterclasses. On a 20 years long artist palette, world top profiles such as Jordi Savall, Les Arts Florissants, Anne-Sofie von Otter, Freiburger Barockorkester, Philippe Jaroussky, Concentus Musicus Wien, Collegium Vocale Gent and Ton Koopman can be noticed.

According to tradition, SEMF offers 2023 a new festival edition in the wonderful early summer light of Stockholm's Old Town, this year with a focus on Spanish delicacies. After an exuberant baroque zarzuela with the spirited Los Elementos as the opening performance, the ensembles Cantoría and La Galanía will offer Iberian salads and popular dishes. Belgian B'Rock pursues Monteverdi on his journey to Flanders, and The Curious Bards promise a delightful display of Celtic baroque music. Brilliant mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenberg shines from her own Handel star, and we are treated to a world premiere when M. Praetorius' famous "Terpsichore" is staged with an innovative choreography. And, of course, we celebrate Sweden on its 500^th birthday with grandiose sounds from the Vasa court as Canto Fiorito, Vilnius, collaborates with Swedish singers on the Swedish National Day.

It will never be too late for early music! 

Peter Pontvik
Artistic Director SEMF

Subject to changes