Renaissance Myth & Legend - 2011-2012 Season
Something strange
happened in the Renaissance. The deities of Greece and Rome had been
proper gods with temples, rituals, priests and worshippers to go with
them. They had disappeared only when Christianity took their place.
Yet in the Renaissance, when the gods and goddesses of the ancient world
re-emerged, they were no longer part of a religion, they were something
else ... they were reanimated in the arts. San Francisco Renaissance
Voices is pleased to announce our 2011-12 Season, Renaissance Myth
& Legend filled with music inspired by gods, goddesses and epic
heroes. Our Opera Early & Ancient mini-series presents Thomas
Arne's Judgment of Paris, our fun-filled gala An Evening at Elizabeth's
Court returns and we celebrate Twelfth Night with our second Boar's Head
Festival.
NEXT CONCERT! ~
THE LEGEND of HERCULES - MUSIC from the COURT of FERRARIAE
March 18 - 4:00 pm
All Saints' Episcopal Church
555 Waverley Street
Palo Alto
March 24 - 7:30 pm
Seventh Avenue Performances
1329 Seventh Avenue
San Francisco
March 25 - East Bay venue and time TBA
The
demigod Hercules, son of the great god Jupiter and the mortal woman
Alcmena, and his legendary strength have inspired countless stories,
artworks
and music was also the name given to the Duke of Ferrariae whose court
employed the best musicians of the day. Join us for this concert from the
Court of Ferrariae including music by Martini, Obrecht, Isaac, Josquin
and others.
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ANNUAL SEASON OPENING GALA PERFORMANCE & BENEFIT
AN EVENING AT ELIZABETH'S COURT
October 15, 2011 - Seventh Avenue Presbyterian, San FranciscoOur
fun-filled evening of music, merriment, mead and morsels returns
when
her legendary royal majesty Gloriana, Maestro Todd Jolly, and the
staff and
singers of San Francisco Renaissance Voices invite you to
An Evening at Elizabeth's Court starting with a reception flowing with mead
and wine, and a silent auction featuring some of the finest items in The
Realm
including tickets to performances and dining, fine vintages and
valuable
gift items. Your evening at Court ends with Renaissance feasting
and
this year her majesty's entertainment includes music from visiting
members of the Court of France. Her Majesty requests dress appropriate for the occasion and those in period costume will be especially welcomed!
Annual Office of the Dead Concerts
REQUIEM FOR 3 MURDERED PRINCESSES
November 6 - 4:00 pm
All Saints' Episcopal Church
555 Waverly Street
Palo Alto
November 12 - 7:30 pm
Seventh Avenue Performances
1329 Seventh Avenue
San Francisco
November 13 - 2:00 pm
St. John's Presbyterian Church
2727 College Avenue
Berkeley
The legendary House of the Medici was as full of triumph as it was
tragedy; especially symbolized by the murders of the three princesses, Maria, Lucrezia & Isabella, daughters of the first Duke Cosimo, at the
hands of their husbands. We perform our eighth annual Office of the Dead
concerts for these princesses with a composite mass inspired by the
mass performed for the great Duke Cosimo II at his funeral. Included is music by
Carlo Gesualdo, Francesco Sponza Usper & music by the Medici as
well, including that of Isabella whose ghost is rumored to still appear
in the castle where she was murdered and features the Requiem of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594).
Special Performance: THE BOAR'S HEAD FESTIVAL
January 7 - 7:30 pm
Seventh Avenue Performances
1329 Seventh Avenue
San Francisco
January 8 - 4:00 pm
First Lutheran Church of Palo Alto
600 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto
Join her royal majesty, Gloriana,
Assistant Music Director Katherine McKee, Phantom of the Opera's soprano Susan Gundunas, actors,dancers prepared by Choreographer LeAnna Sharp, our superb choristers and one of our favorite collaborators, Celtic Harper Diana Rowan when we
end the holiday season with a celebration of Twelfth Night - The Boar's
Head - a 650 year old celebration, with the music of Medieval,
Renaissance & Contemporary England! Legend has it that a scholar was studying a book
of Aristotle while walking through the forest on his way to Midnight Mass. Suddenly, he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other
weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his metal-bound philosophy book
down the throat of the charging animal, whereupon the brute choked to
death. That night the boar's head, finely dressed and garnished, was
borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing
"in honor of the King of bliss." During the concert our audiences will
get to sing along, and after the concert you will enjoy a feast featuring wassail, king's cake and traditional meat and
vegetable pies.
THE LEGEND of HERCULES
March 18 - 4:00 pm
All Saints' Episcopal Church
555 Waverley Street
Palo Alto
March 24 - 7:30 pm
Seventh Avenue Performances
1329 Seventh Avenue
San Francisco
March 25 - East Bay venue and time TBA
The
demigod Hercules, son of the great god Jupiter and the mortal woman
Alcmena, and his legendary strength have inspired countless stories,
artworks
and music was also the name given to the Duke of Ferrariae whose court
employed the best musicians of the day. Join us for this concert from the
Court of Ferrariae including music by Martini, Obrecht, Isaac, Josquin
and others.
GODDESSES, GODDESSES, GODDESSES!!!
August 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2012 - venues and times TBA
Our
popular Opera Early & Ancient mini-series features
Thomas Arne's
(1710-1778) Judgment of Paris -
The god Mercury tasks the shepherd Paris
to deliver a golden apple to the most beautiful
of 3 goddesses, Juno,
Athena and Venus, who then battle it out in this celestial beauty
contest.
(And just in case you're wondering who wins, after a bit of
deceit, Venus claims the title).
