THE NEWBERRY CONSORT JOINS FORCES WITH PHILADELPHIA-BASED PIFFARO FOR THE MARCHESA: ISABELLA D’ESTE
January 2, 2020—The Newberry Consort joins acclaimed Renaissance wind band Piffaro February 7, 8, and 9, 2020 for The Marchesa, a program of music from the court of Isabella d’Este, the powerful woman politician, philosopher, and patron of the arts who ruled the court of Mantua during the early part of the 16th century.
These concerts prominently feature soprano Ellen Hargis singing frottole, an Italian song form that flourished at Isabella’s court. Musicians from Piffaro will play a variety of historical wind instruments, including shawms, dulcians, sackbuts, recorders, krumhorns, and bagpipes. A violin band led by David Douglass, and Renaissance lute rounds out the diverse ensemble of period instruments. Audiences will experience rarely heard 16th century repertoire performed by North America’s leading interpreters of Renaissance music. Lush projections of portraits and other historical images curated by Shawn Keener will add an enticing visual component to each performance.
The Marchesa will be performed three times across Chicagoland. Pre-concert chats led by musicologist Dr. Anne MacNeil will take place thirty minutes prior to the start time of each performance. On Friday, the concert will be performed at the Newberry Library’s Ruggles Hall, with complimentary wine and prosecco served before the concert and at intermission. Saturday’s performance at the University of Chicago’s International House includes a complimentary pre-concert reception that begins at 7:00 pm. The Sunday matinee will take place in the neo-Gothic sanctuary of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located in the heart of south Evanston.
Concert details:
Friday, February 7th at 8:00 pm, (pre-concert chat at 7:30 pm)
Complimentary wine and prosecco available to ticket holders before concert and at intermission
Ruggles Hall at Newberry Library
60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
Saturday, February 8th at 8:00 pm (pre-concert chat at 7:30 pm)
Complimentary reception begins at 7 pm
International House, University of Chicago
1414 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637
Sunday, February 9th at 3:00 pm (pre-concert chat at 2:30 pm)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
939 Hinman Ave, Evanston, IL 60202
