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A Valentine’s Bouquet

“My mistress embodies all virtues:” so goes the text of one of the 15th centuries’ most beloved melodies, De tous bien plaine. We propose a little bouquet, including three variant settings of this tune, by an all-star lineup of Franco-Flemish masters: Alexander Agricola (1446-1506), followed by Josquin Desprez (ca.1450-1521), and a return to Alexander Agricola.

The vocal soloist is Michael Barrett, and all of the music from this live performance can also be heard on Camerata’s recent, excellent CD Treasures of Devotion. Please enjoy!

Dido and Aeneas:
An Opera for Distanced Lovers

Music by Henry Purcell (1659-1695)  –  Libretto by Nahum Tate (1652-1715)

This new production of Purcell’s only true opera features performances by live and remote musicians and media elements conceived by Peter Torpey, all stitched together to be viewed from the safety and comfort of your home. Artistic Director Anne Azéma leads a stellar cast, with Tahanee Aluwihare as Dido, Luke Scott as Aeneas, Camila Parias as Dido’s sister Belinda, and Jordan Weatherston Pitts as the Sorcerer, assisted by students from Longy School of Music of Bard College.

Our trailer was created by Peter Torpey featuring music from the 1979 Boston Camerata recording of Dido and Aeneas.

Tahanee Aluwihare, Dido; Camila Parias, Belinda; Luke Scott, Aeneas; Jordan Weatherston Pitts, Sorcerer; Anne Azéma, Music and Stage Director

An Italian Dialogue in Music

Our musical offering to you this week is a beautiful instrumental piece by a gifted, Jewish contemporary of Claudio Monteverdi. It’s the Sonata in Dialogo by Salamone Rossi (1570-1630), and we’ve chosen it because it embodies friendly exchange and relationship — essentials we never want to lose sight of during a winter season of continued pandemic. Soloists are Bruce Dickey, cornetto, and Carol Lewis, treble viol, with Libor Dudas, organ, and Christa Patton, harp, from a December 2018 Boston Camerata concert. May our many conversations continue!
Sound and video by David and Harriet Griesinger