The retrieval of the silenced female composers of the baroque
The Festival Llums Antiga will celebrate its third edition highlighting artists such as Francesca Caccini, Isabella Leonarda, Claudia Sessa or Barbara Strozzi.
History has always been an open book with many forgotten treasures to discover. It can be easy to dismiss some findings, but it is a little harder to erase them completely. This idea becomes apparent through music. For this reason, the Festival Llums Antiga wants to retrieve the talent of the great baroque female composers who were silenced for centuries.
For the third time, Auditori is promoting an event featuring artists of the likes of Nevermind, who will play sonatas by Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. Qvinta Essencia will also be joining, performing motets and psalms by Isabella Leonarda in collaboration with the soprano Roberta Invernezzi. The vocal formation will use Manuel Vilas' historical harps.
Through the repertoire of Ensemble Gilles Binchois, conducted by Dominique Vellard, the festival will also concentrate on Catalonia's cultural heritage. They will perform Misa de Barcelona, dated around the mid-14th century, and Misa del códice de Apt, another vocal work from the 14th century. Further, Cor Cererols will present an act dedicated to the greatest masters of the Escolania de Monserrat, through which we will be able to listen to compositions by Joan Cererols, Joan Marc, and Anselm Ferrer.
The festival will open on Wednesday, May 12th, with Hathor Consort, joined by soprano Hana Blažíková and viol player Romina Lischka. They will be performing works by Francesca Caccini, Isabella Leonarda, and Claudia Sessa. It will be a unique opportunity to get caught up in the most beautiful passages of forgotten history.
You can book your ticket at this link.