Upcoming Performances
Revolutionary Renaissance
Sat., March 1, 2025 at 4 pm Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT
Sun., March 2, 2025 at 4 pm Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA
Crescendo presents two concerts with rarely performed works of two minority groups of the Renaissance era. The repertoire includes vocal and instrumental works by six female Italian composers: Isabella de’ Medici, Maddalena Casulana, Paola Massarenghi, Lucia Quinciani, Rafaella Aleotti, and Claudia Francesca Rusca, and motets and a madrigal by the Afro-Portuguese composer Vicente Lusitano.
Isabella de’ Medici, a noble woman from the powerful Medici family in Florence, Italy, a talented singer and lutenist, was also a patron of the arts, hosting musical events and sought out many female poets and singing groups for her performances. Maddalena Casulana was the first woman in Western music history to publish her music and consider herself a professional composer. Paola Massarenghi from Parma is credited for being the second woman ever to have a madrigal published during her lifetime. Venecian Lucia Quinciani is the earliest known published female composer of monody. Rafaella Aleotti was a nun, whose compositions were the first book of sacred music by a woman to appear in print, and who not only performed, but to lead an ensemble of twenty-three nuns – something not usual in her times. Claudia Francesca Rusca wrote the first known preserved instrumental works by a woman. The Portuguese composer Vicente Lusitano, is the only published composer of African descent in 16th-century Europe. His highly elaborate vocal music has only become more widely available since 2022.
Crescendo Vocal Ensemble of twenty five singers – amateurs and professionals, with soloists Jennifer Tyo and Sarah Fay, sopranos, Laura Evans, alto, and Igor Ferrerira, tenor, are accompanied by Christa Patton, harp and recorder, and Juan Mesa, organ. The ensemble is directed by Crescendo Founding Artistic Director, Christine Gevert.
Support for these concerts has been provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature, and NBT Bank. We also thank WMNR Radio for their ongoing support.
Spring Baroque
Body & Soul: Cavalieri’s Rapressentatione di Anima e di Corpo
Sat., May 10, 2025 at 6 pm Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT
Sun., May 11, 2025 at 4 pm Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA
Roman composer Emilio Cavalieri wrote and premiered his groundbreaking work Rappresentatione del alma e di corpo with great success in 1600. The question remains, whether this work is considered an opera or an oratorio (sacred drama)!
The subject, an allegorical drama, is a lively debate over worldly vanities versus a spiritual life. It features six allegorical figures: Anima, the Soul (soprano), Corpo, the Body (baritone), Good Counsel (bass), Intellect (tenor), Time (bass), Pleasure (mezzo-soprano), and a chorus that comments on the action, accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Arias, recitativos, ensemble pieces and dance alternate to create a varied and dramatic and entertaining representation of the plot. This is something that we take for granted now, as we are so used to this format in opera, cantata, oratorio, and also the popular contemporary musicals.
Crescendo Chorus, Soloists and Period Instrument Orchestra, led by Christine Gevert
Support for these concerts has been provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature, and NBT Bank. We also thank WMNR Radio for their ongoing support.
Summer 2025 Choral Singing Sessions
June – July 2025 Trinity Church, Lakeville, CT, and Saint James Place, Great Barrington, MA
These summer sessions are an opportunity to sing with a small group, exploring the repertoire, understanding what is behind the music, how the composition is conceived, and what it means. In each session we will offer some tools of vocal technique, and also brief exercises to build or develop your practical musical skills. The workshop leader is Christine Gevert. Three levels are offered: easy, intermediate, or advanced. Sessions last for about an hour and a half, for 5 weeks. Dates: TBD (June to July 2025).
Session Themes: 1. Broadway Showtunes; 2. Irish and English Folk songs; 3. Latin American Music (Chile, Peru and Bolivia–Renaissance to Modern); 4. Baroque Opera Choruses (Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Purcell’s King Arthur, Handel’s Theodora, and others); 5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Motets; 6. Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine SV 206
Apply by writing to crescendo@crescendomusic.org with your session choices and singing level. Registration fee: $75 per set of five sessions
Support for these workshops has been provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature, and NBT Bank. We also thank WMNR Radio for their ongoing support.
Crescendo At Home
Virtual Concerts On-Demand NOW
Latest recordings:
Recorded: December 29, 2024
Bach-Circle: Christmas Oratorios and Contemporary Female Voices
Recorded: October 6, 2024
Nature in Vivaldi’s Sounds: Concertos for Violin, Flute, and Two Mandolins
Recorded: September 14, 2024
Hommage à Wanda Landowska – Kenneth Weiss
Now you can watch Crescendo’s concerts at home at any time with our virtual concert portal – Crescendo at Home!
We want to keep choral and baroque music experiences alive not only during the pandemic, but also for your pleasure, comfort and for anyone who is not able to attend concerts in person.
Recorded in high quality audio by former Carnegie Hall engineer Leszek Wojcik, and filmed in high definition by Charlette Media Productions, we offer you an experience that is similar to being there in person. It even brings you closer to the performers than you ever would in a live concert.
Watch, and share with your family and friends! Subscribe to our e-Newsletter for news on upcoming Crescendo at Home programming.
