MARCH 28-30

The unfailingly elegant musicianship of guest artist Drew Minter is only the most obvious reason to plan a stop at the Folger Shakespeare Library this Easter weekend. Minter (pictured), one of the world’s top countertenors, joins the Folger Consort along with Irish harpist Siobhan Armstrong for a program of 17th-century English tunes, including songs that might have been used in original productions of Shakespeare. On the list: the Twelfth Night clown’s “O Mistresse Mine” and Desdemona’s “Willow Song,” plus “Full Fathom Five” in a Robert Johnson setting probably used by Shakespeare’s company in the first staging of The Tempest. Also on the bill are a collection of dances that would’ve been played at court masques before the English Civil War and during the Restoration, plus several songs (including the deliciously moody “Bess of Bedlam”) and a chaconne by the peerless Henry Purcell. At 8 p.m. Friday (with a pre-concert discussion at 7 p.m.), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 & 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. $22. (202) 544-7077. (Trey Graham)