Harmonic convergence

Any given month of the year, Boston's early-music scene is robust and vital, but in a few weeks the city will become the epicenter of early music in North America, as thousands of fans, performers, and instrument makers converge for the 14th biennial Boston Early Music Festival . BEMF organizers expect a total of about 15,000 people to participate in this year's festival and the accompanying trade show, giving early music its moment in the sun.

The headlining draw of this year's festival will be the fully staged North American premiere of Jean-Baptiste Lully's 1678 opera "Psyché," with a libretto adapted from the Moliere play. As always, the BEMF production sets out to be historically informed, head to toe -- from the singing and orchestral playing to the choreography and costumes -- and this year the festival promises to unveil an authentic reproduction of 17th-century stage machinery to move people on and off the stage. Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs will serve as music directors, and Gilbert Blin will be the stage director. The cast features Carolyn Sampson in the title role, Karina Gauvin as Venus, and Aaron Sheehan as L'Amour. After five performances in Boston, beginning June 12, it will move to the Berkshires for an additional three starting June 22.

"I think each festival represents a new and fresh commitment to raising the standards for the entire field," said Kathleen Fay, executive director of BEMF. "The gathering of luminaries from around the world, bringing rising stars and very accomplished people together for a once-in-history experience, it's a huge thrill."

In addition to the opera, there will also be master classes, dance workshops, fringe concerts by emerging artists (as many as 15 programs per day), and 14 main festival concerts, mostly in Jordan Hall, featuring everything from standard Baroque repertoire to a program of Franco-Flemish Renaissance music laid out in the form of a palindrome. Benjamin Bagby and his fine ensemble Sequentia promise to be another festival highlight with their June 15 performance of "Edda," an original piece based on pre-Christian Norse stories. And as in past years, the concerts will run late into the night, with four programs that don't begin until 11 p.m.

There will also be round tables and symposia with titles like "Visual Effects in the 17th Century: How they made opera like movies," and, of particular local relevance, "A Hole in the Cities: Where have all the record stores gone?" Apropos that very question, BEMF, for the first time this year, will temporarily fill the void by creating its own record store packed with early-music offerings from about 20 labels. The store will be part of the giant trade show taking place at the Radisson Hotel with everyone from instrument makers to book publishers displaying their wares, explaining their craft, and trading opinions with the throngs of early-music pilgrims. For devotees of this music, there's nothing quite like it. For those new to early music, you could hardly find a better place to begin.

The festival runs June 11-17. Lully's "Psyché" is at the Cutler Majestic Theatre June 12-17 and at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, June 22-24. 617-661-1812, bemf.org

Jeremy Eichler can be reached at jeichler@globe.com.