In the Castle
of the Moon
The Music of Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-LΓΌneburg
Friday, September 22 | 7:30 pm | Hyde Park
Hyde Park Union Church
5600 S Woodlawn Ave., Chicago
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Saturday, September 23 | 7:30 pm | Downtown
Ganz Hall (Roosevelt University)
430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
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Sunday, September 24 | 4:00 pm | Evanston
St. Lukeβs Episcopal Church
939 Hinman Ave., Evanston
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The Newberry Consort opens its 37th season with the delightful music of Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-LΓΌneburg. Described by her teacher Heinrich SchΓΌtz as βthe incomparably perfect princess in all other princely virtues, especially in the praiseworthy profession of music,β Sophie Elisabeth (1613-1676) was a composer, poet, translator, arts patron, and impresario who transformed Lower Saxony into a thriving center for music and the humanities. Her musical talents and patronage made her famous during her lifetime and influenced early Baroque music in Germany for years to come.
Despite her many accomplishments, Sophie Elisabeth has nearly vanished from history. The Newberry Consort is thrilled to reintroduce her musical works, many of which have never been performed in the United States. The program features selections from over a hundred surviving pieces, including strophic songs, instrumental sinfonias, dances, sacred concertos, and music from her Festspielenβmasque-like music dramas that Sophie Elisabeth referred to as βsong-ballets.β The concerts will also include works by her teachers, including the influential Heinrich SchΓΌtz and English expatriate William Brade. Audiences will hear singers, viola da gamba, organ, lute, harpsichord, and a consort of strings and trombones. The soundscape recalls that of Sophie Elisabethβs βCastle of the Moonββan interpretation of the name βLΓΌneburgβ by the dukes who lived there, as well as an allusion to female power.
This concert is presented in partnership with Haymarket Opera Company, kicking off a two-week mini-festival of 17th-century music by women composers. In addition to The Newberry Consortβs ππ― π΅π©π¦ ππ’π΄π΅ππ¦ π°π§ π΅π©π¦ ππ°π°π―, Haymarket Opera will produce Francesca Cacciniβs ππ’ ππͺπ£π¦π³π’π»πͺπ°π―π¦ π₯πͺ ππΆπ¨π¨πͺπ¦π³π° π₯π’ππβπͺπ΄π°ππ’ π₯βπππ€πͺπ―π’. Look for familiar Haymarket and Newberry Consort artists in both events!
AndrΓ©s GuzmΓ‘n β’ Trombone