Cincinnati Early Music Festival Week Three

Four more lovely events this week in Early Music.  

Couperin

The French did Baroque in their own way, very codified, carefully ornamented, très élégant.  And François Couperin was one of the greatest, most élégant of them all.  His Tenebrae Lessons are an example of a uniquely French treatment of the Holy Week devotions.  Poetry from the Book of Lamentations describing the destruction of Jerusalem becomes a metaphor for the Passion of Christ.  The entire work becomes a meditation on public mourning, of a grieving community confronting the consequences of sin.  Harpsichordist Ted Gibboney, gambist Cole Guillien, soprano Audrey Luna, and countertenor William Sauerland present this rarely performed masterpiece from the court of Versailles.  http://catacoustic.com/ai1ec_event/the-couperin-tenebrae/?instance_id=93

Sunday Feb 16, 3:00pm, Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Hyde Park, free.

Annalisa says, "Hold it higher, Claudia

,

 I can't see it!"

Jim, none of us minds the wigs, but is that lipstick?

For an intimate concert in an unusual venue, check out the Cincinnati Viol Consort’s performance this week at the Monastery, a former church converted to recording studio.  The program is an eclectic mix of favorites for four-part consort, played on treble, tenor, bass, and the “great dooble bass,” the grumpy grandpa of the viol family.  They will be joined by soprano Amanda Heisler for a set of songs by William Byrd.  This event is to raise funds for the Catacoustic Early Music Scholarship, awarded annually to a local early musician. The Cincinnati Viol Consort is Annalisa Pappano, Jim Lambert, Alice Nutter, and Cole Guillien.  http://catacoustic.com/ai1ec_event/a-cabinet-of-viols/?instance_id=94

Monday Feb 17, 7:30pm, the Monastery, East Walnut Hills, suggested donation $10.  

Oh, sorry, I've been too busy blogging to practice.

Cole Guillien, Renaissance man

For Valentine’s Day, a love story.  L’Orfeo, the first opera, by Claudio Monteverdi, tells the story of a man who gives up everything to save his love.  Cincinnati Chamber Opera will mount a partially staged version of this masterwork on two nights, at Christ Church Cathedral.  http://catacoustic.com/ai1ec_event/lorfeo-2/?instance_id=92

Friday Feb 14 and Saturday Feb 15, 7:00 pm, Christ Church Cathedral, downtown, $17 adults, $15 students and seniors.

And finally, the Knox Choir of Knox Presbyterian under the direction of Dr. Earl Rivers will perform selections from Symphoniae Sacrae III (1650) by Heinrich Schutz as a Prelude to and within the Traditional Worship Service.  Schutz was one of the most important German composers of the 17^th century, and he studied with Giovanni Gabrieli and likely with Monteverdi. The Symphoniae display his unique synthesis of German and Italian styles.  http://catacoustic.com/ai1ec_event/symphoniae-sacrae-iii/?instance_id=90

Sunday Feb 16, 11:00am, Knox Presbyterian, Hyde Park.