Love's torments and delicious pleasures expressed in florid and passionate songs: "Io Vidi in Terra," the 2014-15 season opening concert for Pegasus Early Music sounds, to use a carefully chosen adjective, ravishing. The composers are, unsurprisingly, Italian: 16th and 17th century geniuses like Claudio Monteverdi and Benedetto Ferrari, whose canzonettas, or solo vocal works, are an important step in the development of the cantata and the opera. The singer is Brazilian countertenor José Lemos, who is carving out a busy career in baroque opera. Lemos will be accompanied by harpsichordist Jory Vinikour and Deborah Fox on theorbo and baroque guitar, who also get the opportunity to show their stuff in instrumental music by Frescobaldi and Piccinini.
Pegasus Early Music presents "Io Vidi in Terra" on Sunday, October 12, at Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 North Fitzhugh Street. 4 p.m. $10-$25. 703-3990; Pegasusearlymusic.org.