The CCC (Camerata Corruption Corps) is on the go.

For our musical offering this week, we propose an excerpt from the 14th-century fable Le Roman de Fauvel, which spins out a biting, satirical allegory of malfeasance at the French court through the tale of the malevolent orange animal Fauvel and his efforts to take over France. Rex beatus, sung here by Michael Barrett and Timothy Evans, with Stephen Lundahl on sackbut, gives some advice to the ruling class: Do better! As indeed they should.

Joel Cohen is the narrator. Translation:

Motetus (Tim): Saint Louis now reigns in heaven, with the company of saints. You who bear his name, blood of his blood, follow his path, in a sacred bond.

Triplum (Michael): If a joyous, young, handsome and kind heart loves, it is just. For a noble, tender, and youthful heart should obtain the object of its desire, while others less noble should not know the pleasure of love.

We invite you to take a minute (two-and-a-half, actually) to relax and listen to this sneak peek into last week’s recording session: a raw take of the sublime Por nos virgen Madre from the Cantigas de Santa María by King Alfonso el Sabio of Castile (1221-1284). Anne Azéma is the soloist, accompanied by Christa Patton on harp; the sound engineer is our own David Griesinger.

I first welcomed Reynette Estellien into our circle of Boston Camerata collaborators when she was a young student, singing with heart and soul as a member of the “Nueva España” cast. In successive years she helped to organize “Les Fleurs des Caraïbes” for their numerous collaborations with us. Two decades later, she still puts everything she has into her music-making, as those who recently saw and heard her at our December 2019 Christmas concerts can attest.

And you can also witness, in this video clip Reynette just sent us, the same passionate commitment she gives to her music, here also evident in her professional life as a medical researcher. She and her laboratory co-workers are looking for a vaccine to COVID-19, and we wish her, and them, every possible success! At Camerata we have always believed that there is a continuum between the focused, committed love that artistic work requires, and the human challenges of life in general. Reynette Estellien is our shining example of how good personal values apply, everywhere, all across the board.

Reynette, we are so proud of you. And how privileged we are to have you as a part of the Camerata family! We look forward to receiving more of your hopeful news.

Joel Cohen
Music Director Emeritus

Hear from Camerata colleague Reynette Estellien