LUTE DUETS : Daniel Swenberg is one of two to perform at the Unitarian Church on February 16.

The Dryden Ensemble returns with its new artistic director, Daniel Swenberg, in a program entitled “A 26-Course Feast: Baroque Lute Duets” on Sunday, February 16 at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road. Admission is free, though donations are accepted.

Lutenists Swenberg and Dušan Balarin will perform 17th- and 18th-century duets for the Baroque lute. While performances of Baroque lute duets are extremely rare, there is a significant repertoire from the early 17th century to the close of the 18th. The program begins and ends with duets from the center of the lute’s final flourishing—the court of Wilhelmine, Margrave of Bayreuth (Fredrick the Great’s sister). Works by Telemann and other composers are also on the program.

The season continues at the Princeton Theological Seminary Chapel on Sunday, March 16 at 4 p.m. with “The Marvelous Mr. Meusel,” a program of 18th-century courtly entertainments for flute, bass viol, lute, and harpsichord, featuring music by Couperin Bach, Dieupart, and Meusel. On Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. the ensemble presents “Baroque Passion: Music for Holy Week,” featuring soprano Clara Rottsolk in sacred arias by Bach and Ferrandini for obbligato violas da gamba and lute.

Visit drydenensemble.org for more information.