Presented by Tage Alte Musik Regensburg: Songs of Love & Death: Selections from I madrigali a cinque voci by Cipriano de Rore

The American vocal ensemble Blue Heron, which was awarded the English "Gramophone Award 2018", under the direction of its founder Scott Metcalfe, will present madrigal compositions by Cipriano de Rore from his madrigal book I madrigali a cinque voci, published in Venice in 1542. Above all, the poetry of Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) has inspired Cipriano de Rore like many other composers over the centuries. His sonnets are highly musical and of great descriptiveness. For a better understanding, each madrigal is preceded by a reading of the Italian text by the reciter Alessandro Quarta. He masters the subtleties of the language and emphasizes through his performance the strong connection between Petrarch's famous poetry and de Rore's musical realization.

Kim Leeds Mezzo-soprano
Martin Near Countertenor
Reginald Mobley Countertenor
Jason McStoots Tenor
Sumner Thompson Tenor
Paul Guttry Bass
Alessandro Quarta Actor

Scott Metcalfe, Director