Celebrate Valentine's Day with the Newberry Consort

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in grand fashion with The Newberry Consort, which will present “The Passion of Héloïse and Abélard,” a concert of medieval love songs inspired by one of history’s great love affairs. The concerts will take place Feb. 16 at the Newberry Library, Feb. 17 at the Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, and Feb. 18 at Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Pierre Abélard was a 12th century French poet, philosopher and scholar who fell in love with his student, the brilliant and beautiful Héloïse. Forced to separate, the lovers communicated by letter for decades, and today their correspondence gives us a glimpse into one of history’s great love stories.

In this sumptuous production, two costumed actors, Jeff Strauss and Northwestern University student Helena Scholz-Carlson, will portray the medieval lovers, reading their letters, some newly-discovered and translated by Barbara Newman. The Consort will perform 14th century music and poetry in the courtly love tradition including music by Guillaume de Machaut, Baude Cordier, Jacob de Senleches and others.

“There is something wonderfully romantic about the story about Heloise and Abelard, who were as infatuated with each other’s minds as they were with their bodies,” says Ellen Hargis, co-artistic director of the Consort. “We think audiences will love returning to the time of medieval France in this concert and see that true love is the same no matter what century you are in.”

The concert will feature several renowned musicians including Hargis (voice); David Douglass (vielle and rebec); Allison Monroe (vielle and rebec); Charles Metz (organetto), Christa Patton (harp, winds); and Aaron Sheehan (voice).

To enhance the Valentine’s Day experience, audience members at the Newberry Library performance will enjoy cabaret seating and complimentary bubbly and chocolates, and may also take advantage of a Valentine’s dinner before or after the concert at Bistro Zinc (1131 N. State St.), where ticket holders can enjoy a special prix-fixe menu. The audience at Galvin and Logan Halls are invited to join the artists at a post-concert reception.

Event Details

Forbidden Love – The Passion of Heloise and Abelard

Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at 8 p.m. at Ruggles Hall at Newberry Library
Tickets: $50-$60

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at 8 p.m. at Logan Center at the University of Chicago
Tickets: $40-$50

Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Galvin Recital Hall, Northwestern University in Evanston
Tickets: $40-$50

To purchase tickets visit www.newberryconsort.org.

Pre-concert chats start 30 minutes before each performance.

About the Newberry Consort:
Directed by David Douglass, Newberry Musician-in-Residence, and early music diva Ellen Hargis, the Newberry Consort plumbs the Newberry Library’s vast music collection and assembles a star-studded roster of local and international artists to bring you world-class performances of music from the 13th to the 18th centuries…and occasionally beyond! Affiliated with the Newberry Library Center for Renaissance Studies, the Consort also serves as an ensemble-in-residence at both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. In addition to an annual concert series in Chicago, the Consort has an active touring schedule.