Ars & Amici and Concordia Consort join forces to present "Agony & Ecstasy, Extremes of Love," secular music from intensely passionate Italian 16th century composers. The music celebrates the first bloom of romance, heartbreak and loss, and returns to the triumph of love in vocal works by Monteverdi, Gesualdo, Wert, Marenzio, Luzzaschi, Striggio & others. Concordia's recorders perform instrumental pieces by Maschera, Merulo, Canale & Cato. Sheila Beardslee directs both ensembles. Sopranos Harriet Bridges & Eileen Callahan are featured soloists.
Both ensembles have been performing throughout Massachusetts for over a decade, exploring a wide variety of music from the cities, courts and chapels of Renaissance Europe. Ars & Amici has toured Italy nine times, and with members of Concordia Consort, has performed in Venice, Rome, Florence, Orvieto, Padua and other historic cities. In 2009 the group made its first tour of Croatia, delighting audiences in places where music of this type is rarely heard.
