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The Marchesa: Isabella d’Este

A co-production with Piffaro

7, 8, 9 February 2020

Marchesa Isabella d'Este

Friday, February 7th at 8:00 pm
(pre-concert chat at 7:30 pm)
Ruggles Hall at Newberry Library
60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610
Complimentary wine and prosecco available to ticket holders
before concert and at intermission.

Saturday, February 8th at 8:00 pm
(pre-concert chat at 7:30 pm)
International House, University of Chicago
1414 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637

Sunday, February 9th at 3:00 pm
(pre-concert chat at 2:30 pm)
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
939 Hinman Ave, Evanston, IL 60202

This program honors the great Isabella d’Este, a politician, mother, taste-maker, musician, writer, art collector, and one of the most important patrons of the Italian Renaissance. These concerts feature the frottole, an Italian song form that propagated at Isabella d’Este’s Mantuan court. Isabella commissioned her favorite poets and composers including Josquin des Prez (c. 1450-1521), Bartolomeo Tromboncino (d. 1534) and Marco Cara (d. 1525) to craft these short, amorous songs, which she herself enjoyed performing. Soprano Ellen Hargis gives voice to this sensual Italian poetry accompanied by a variety of Renaissance instruments, including guitar, lute, shawms, recorders, and strings.

Purchase Tickets - The Marchesa: Isabella d’Este

Featured vocalists:
Ellen Hargis, soprano & co-director

Featured instrumentalists:
David Douglass, violin & co-director
Tim Macdonald, violin
Brandi Berry Benson, viola
Allison Monroe, viola
Jeremy David Ward, bass violin
Brandon Acker, lute & guitar

Members of Piffaro, The Renaissance Band:
Joan Kimball, co-director
Bob Wiemken, co-director
Grant Herreid
Priscilla Herreid
Greg Ingalls
Eric Schmalz
learn more about Piffaro

With projections by Shawn Keener

Scroll Down to Learn More About Our Artists, View Videos and Read our Blog

View the Marchesa Program

View the Marchesa Program Notes

Tickets: $50 Preferred Seating, $40 General Admission, $10 student tix (available on-line or at-door)

Please note seats at all Newberry Consort venues are not assigned. Seating is divided into two sections: Preferred Seating and General Admission. Student ticket-holders must sit in the General Admission section. If you require special accommodation, please contact us in advance at manager@newberryconsort.org and we will assist you.

Purchase Tickets - The Marchesa: Isabella d’Este

View the videos below to listen to musical highlights and more about our special guests, Piffaro!

The Marchesa Blog

blogThe Marchesa

Ilz Fantasie – Josquin

By | Feb 6, 2020 | 0 Comments

Click below for another tantalizing preview of the beautiful Italian Renaissance music you will hear at these special concerts. In this clip, taken from a live performance, Piffaro musicians play Josquin's "Ilz Fantazie" which will be performed at our concerts Feb....

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blogThe Marchesa

Who was Isabella d’Este?

By | Jan 10, 2020 | 0 Comments

February 7-9, 2020, we bring music from the unique court of Isabella d’Este to Chicagoland stages. These concerts, a collaboration with acclaimed Renaissance wind band Piffaro [link to website] will prominently feature our own Ellen Hargis performing frottole, a...

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Marchesa Isabella d'Este
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Chicago, IL 60660-0212

PHONE: 773-669-7335

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reviews

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Recommended Chicago-area classical concerts (excerpt)

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NEWBERRY CONSORT REVEALS SOARING MUSIC FROM MEXICAN CHOIR BOOKS

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Copyright © 2015, Chicago Tribune

Smooth control of the phrasing and fine communication with the singers, effects that seemed to lay each song in a feathery bed of accompaniment

In certain medieval manuscripts, music and image combine to evoke powerful religious feelings. Take, for example, the sources for the Cantigas de Santa Maria, where colorful drawings of musicians, saints, and nobles frame music and poetry that tell of miracles performed by the Virgin Mary. Gazing at the manuscript, one can catch a glimpse of the celebratory religious culture the authors were trying to convey from across the centuries. Friday night at the First Church in Cambridge, the Chicago-based Newberry… Read more “Smooth control of the phrasing and fine communication with the singers, effects that seemed to lay each song in a feathery bed of accompaniment”

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Alan G. Artner, Special to the Tribune
Chicago Tribune

Feast of the Pheasant

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