Ladies Vespers
About this event
During the 17th century, women composers were often nuns educated in convents or the daughters of musical families such as Florence’s Caccini clan. The works presented in this concert come from both the secular and sacred worlds of 17th-century Italy, written for celebration in the cloister and private devotion in the home. This music abounds with all the inventiveness, refinement, and energy of the age of Monteverdi.
“Being active in the so called ‘Early Music’ field means to me the never-ending process of learning something new – be it instruments, performance practice, history, styles and genres, but first of all composers which I had no idea about. A fruit of this continuous exploration over many years has been a list of women composers making it to the top of my to-be-performed-asap agenda. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity of this Summer Festival in honour of women, and the sweet occasion to put together a somewhat encyclopedic panorama of female composers in the 1600’s. I chose the form of solemn Vespers for Mary, and all female saints, not unlike Monteverdi’s legendary collection in 1610. This is very much a programme from my heart, and I can’t wait to start rehearsals,” said conductor Alexander Weimann.
Artists
Nadine Balbeisi, Myriam Leblanc, Jane Long, Ellen Torrie, Lieselot de Wilde, sopranos
Liz Hamel, Emma Parkinson, Vicki St-Pierre, Krisztina Szabo, altos
Members of Elektra Women’s Choir
EMV Festival Players
Directed by Alexander Weimann
Programme
Bianca Maria Meda (c1665-c1700): Cari musici (Myriam Leblanc, soprano)
Claudia Francesca Rusca (1593-1676): Deus in adiutorium
Marieta Morosina Priuli (mid 17th c.): Corente Duodecima
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-c1678): Dixit Dominus
Maria Xaveria Perucona (c1652-after 1709): Quid pavemus sorores (Vicki St.Pierre, alto)
Raffaella Aleotti (c1570-after 1646): Ego Flos Campi
Marieta Morosina Priuli: Corente Secondo (Matthew Jennejohn, cornetto)
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani: Laudate Pueri
Francesca Caccini (1587-after 1641): Maria, dolce Maria (Nadine Balbeisi, soprano)
Marieta Morosina Priuli: Corrente III (Matthew Jennejohn, recorder)
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani: Laetatus sum
Lucrezia Orsina Vizana (1590-1662): Ave stella matutina (Myriam Leblanc, soprano)
Caterina Assandra (c1590-after 1618): Duo Seraphim (Nadine Balbeisi, Krisztina Szabo, Vicki St.Pierre)
Marieta Morosina Priuli: Corrente Nona (Margaret Little, viola da gamba)
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani: Nisi Dominus
Claudia Sessa (c1570-c1615): Pianto di Maria (Krisztina Szabo, mezzo-soprano)
Claudia Sessa: Occhi io vissi di voi
Claudia Sessa: Vattene pur lasciva orecchia
Caterina Assandra: Audita Caeli (Ellen Torrie, Jane Long, sopranos)
Marieta Morosina Priuli: Corente X
Sulpitia Cesis (early 17th c.): Cantate Domino
Maria Francesca Nascimbeni (b. 1658): Ciechi Amanti
Isabella Leonarda: Sonata Duodecima à Violino Solo (Chloe Meyers, violin)
Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677): Salve Regina (Lieselot De Wilde, soprano)
Claudia Francesca Rusca: Magnificat
Isabella Leonarda: Canon Coronato
Runtime: approx. 100 min
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