Classical

Now that the news has broken of Nicholas McGegan’s 2020 departure from the helm of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra after 35 years as music director, every guest conductor who comes to town is now due for extra-careful scrutiny. One of them, presumably, is likely to emerge as McGegan’s successor.

The first to come under the microscope is conductor Patrick Dupré Quigley, the founding artistic director of the Florida vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire.

Quigley arrives to make his debut with the orchestra in an engagingly seasonal program of music by Monteverdi, Bach, Vivaldi and Purcell. Soprano Margot Rood, countertenor Reginald Mobley, tenor Steven Soph and baritone Steven Eddy serve as vocal soloists.

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra:

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford; 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.; 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley. $32-$120. 415-2521288. www.philharmonia.org

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Conductor Patrick Dupré Quigley