Current
Program Offerings
Virtuosi
Italiani: The florid style of Monteverdi and Handel
Two of the greatest composers of the flamboyant Baroque style
were Monteverdi and Handel. Though separated by a more than
a century, both composers clearly
reveled in writing for the soprano voice. Handel was greatly influenced
by the Italian operatic tradition begun by Monteverdi and his contemporaries.
This program includes Handel’s tour de force duet “No, di
voi non vo fidarmi” (whose themes Handel later borrowed for several
Messiah choruses) and the luscious final duet from Monteverdi’s
opera L’incoronazione di Poppea.
Les
Sirènes + continuo
L’Angoisse
et L’extase: The French Baroque
This program explores the passionate and sensual music of
the French Baroque, with sacred and secular works by Couperin
and Charpentier.
The centerpiece of this program is François Couperin’s masterpiece
for two sopranos, the Troisième Leçon de Ténèbres
Pour le Mercredi Saint, an exquisite setting of the Lamentations of
Jeremiah written in 1714 for the abbey of Longchamps. The program concludes
with a scene from Charpentier’s delightful divertissement Les
Plaisirs de Versailles.
Les
Sirènes + continuo
Sirens and
Shepherds: pastoral and mythological soprano duets
Frequent themes in baroque music are the shepherds and nymphs
of the pastoral world, and the wrathful gods of love. Our program
explores the Italian and English takes on these themes, beginning
with dramatic duets by Monteverdi, Strozzi, Steffani and Lotti.
The second half showcases the two masters of the English Baroque--Purcell
and Blow--with mad songs, theater music, and charming songs and
duets.
Les Sirènes + continuo
Handel
in Italia: Cantatas & Arias for two sopranos and
Sonatas for two violins
Early in his career Handel spent a few years in Italy, where
he was inspired by the dramatic and virtuosic style of Italian
composers. He carried these Italian musical influences into his
work back in Germany and then England. This program includes
Arcadian duets and violin sonatas from both his Roman and London
periods, as well as duets and arias from some of Handel's best-loved
Italian operas and oratorios.
Les Sirènes + continuo and 2 violins
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