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This year’s equinox seems, somehow, even more important this year, as we all strive for more light and warmth during this trying time of pandemic.

To commemorate the arrival of Spring, and in harmony with world Early Music Day, we offer “Edom,” an early American partsong whose text celebrates Nature and seasonal rebirth. We’re happy to be a part of an international musical celebration, and in a spirit of fellowship we propose this gracious excerpt from our own, American heritage. The performance is drawn from Camerata’s now-classic, pioneering Erato recording, The American Vocalist.

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Our musical gift for this cycle anticipates what’s to come as Mother Earth gradually reawakens. Our friend and collaborator Nigel North plays Nicholas Vallet’s 1613 setting for lute of the English ballad tune, “All In a Garden Green.” We offer the performance with cheer and good hope!

And we remind you that Nigel North, with our own Anne Azéma, will be giving a special, online duo recital of Renaissance lute songs and instrumentals, streaming May 15-31.

The music will be special, and the venue as well. To help us celebrate spring, our friends at Historic New England have opened the doors of the beautiful Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA for this event. The Estate’s grand, yet intimate, ballroom offers a visually and sonically rewarding space for chamber music. It’s a perfect setting for the lute song repertoire as transmitted via the uniquely gifted Azéma-North duo, filmed by Dave Jamrog. Please join us!

Lyman Ballroom - With its emphasis on balance and symmetry, the ballroom is an elegant example of Federal architecture.

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For the first part of our online spring mini-series, hear and see Anne Azéma as she narrates and sings an age-old conundrum: how distant lovers keep the flame alive, despite all. 

This free event, To the Distant Beloved, will stream for all of Early Music Day weekend, March 19 – 21; you can register by clicking the Buy Tickets button.

As an appetizer, here is Guillaume de Machaut’s joyful reminiscence of a moment with his true love. 

Quand je suis mis au retour, Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377)
Anne Azéma, voice
Parker Library Machaut Project. Monophonic virelai  

When I return from having seen my lady, I am free of pain and worry…

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“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!

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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.

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

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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

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Artwork: Miguel d’Oliveira


Dear friends, when we saw this anonymous picture on Twitter depicting Dame Fortune in the Roman de Fauvel hanging out with a senator from Vermont and his mittens, we laughed out loud and posted it on Facebook.

And lo! Less than a week later, we find that our post has been viewed, ahem, 183,689 times, with over 1,900 shares, as of this morning (1/28/2021).

Here is a sample of the song and story performed by The Boston Camerata. The first piece is about Dame Fortune, who spins the wheel of Fate; the second, Fauvel’s attempt to pitch Fortune some woo. Enjoy!

Le Roman de Fauvel: Deus roes out & Douce Dame debonaire

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Flaneries Musicales De Reims
Maison Des Comtes De Champagne
The Boston Camerata Dirige Par Anne Azema
“Thibaut De Champagne” Photos Journal


…but so is a nasty virus. And so friends, we must postpone our February production, Douce Dame Jolie, the touching love story in verse and music of Guillaume de Machaut, an aging ecclesiastic, and a passionate young poetess. It’s a marvelous tale, and how we want to share it with you! And so we shall, at a later date, once our planet’s health situation improves.

Meanwhile, we are preparing other romantic musical episodes to lighten your days around Saint Valentine’s. Please stay tuned for further announcements!

To tide you over until then, here for your enjoyment is Amours me fait desirer et amer de cuer mais c’est si folettement by Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377), performed by the Aziman Ensemble (Anne Azéma; Shira Kammen, harp; Fabio Accurso, lute).

The pictures in the video were taken during a project at the Parker Library in Cambridge, UK; Anne looking in awe at the Ferrell-Vogüé Machaut manuscript; Shira and Fabio rehearsing.

Translation: Love makes me desire and love, but it is in such a foolish way…