Seraphic Fire vocal ensemble proves a vivid visitor

Washington has plenty of choruses, and it's not ill-served in the early-music department. Still, having a crack vocal ensemble suddenly arrive in town, along with an accomplished group of early-music instrumentalists, and offer a vivid, sensitive performance of Handel, Purcell and Charpentier, in a well-suited setting, has a certain frisson. Furthermore, it was free.