Douce Dame Jolie:
Guillaume de Machaut’s Last Affair
About two years before he composed his famous Mass, the aging master and churchman Guillaume de Machaut fell in love with the too-young noblewoman Péronne d’Armentière, poetess, dancer, and musician, and an unconditional admirer of the older genius and his works. Their bittersweet story, told in the words of both Machaut and Péronne, and sung to the accompaniment of harps, lutes, and vielles, comprises some of the most beautiful and touching love music of the late Middle Ages, including many songs composed and dedicated by the two lovers to each other in the course of their impossible affair.
May 22-23, 2022
Streaming
On-Demand
On-Demand
Cancelled!
The music is ravishing, and the cast performed with energy and conviction…but there is a major, unresolved issue.
For reasons still undetermined, we are unable to deliver high-quality sound worthy of Machaut’s music, and of the May 7 performance. The timbres of voices and instruments are poorly rendered in the soundtrack, and do not fairly represent the musicians’ fine work.
We can’t, therefore, present you the video as we planned. Our disappointment is deep, as, surely, is yours.
May 7, 2022
8:00pm
A Boston première! From the years of pandemic in medieval France, the touching, bittersweet story of Machaut and his impossible romance with an admiring poetess.
Also available for on-demand streaming starting May 20.
Douce Dame Jolie:
Guillaume de Machaut’s Last Affair
About two years before he composed his famous Mass, the aging master and churchman Guillaume de Machaut fell in love with the too-young noblewoman Péronne d’Armentière, poetess, dancer, and musician, and an unconditional admirer of the older genius and his works. Their bittersweet story, told in the words of both Machaut and Péronne, and sung to the accompaniment of harps, lutes, and vielles, comprises some of the most beautiful and touching love music of the late Middle Ages, including many songs composed and dedicated by the two lovers to each other in the course of their impossible affair.
Feb 14, 2021
4:00pm
Postponed!
A Boston Premiere!