EarlyMusicNews.Org

"La Donna Musicale was formed in 1992 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and the historical performance of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Contemporary music by women composers. The group presented three concerts in its inaugural year, using scores discovered through the research of its director, Laury Gutiérrez. Sponsored by Indiana University, the performances took place in Bloomington, Indiana during Women's History Month. An enthusiastic reception to those events prompted additional research and performances. Professional musicians and music producers in Bloomington and Boston encouraged the participation of the ensemble as a concurrent event during the 1993 Boston Early Music Festival. Its success attracted more performers to the group and led to the establishment of a Boston-based ensemble.

The ensemble is presently guided by a group of prominent individuals who, through the dedicated work as Boards of Directors and Advisors, represent both the artistic and business community. Since its inception, the researchers and performers of La Donna Musicale have studied more than 17 women composers, performed 100 pieces in 18 concerts, and gathered over 1,000 works. The ensemble has premiered the works of Milanese nun Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Venetian courtesan Barbara Strozzi and the mysterious Antonia Bembo. Other composers include Julie Pinel, Bianca Maria Meda, Caterina Assandra, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, and Madalena Casulana. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

La Donna Musicale is a non-profit research, education, and performance organization devoted exclusively to the discovery, preservation, and promotion of sacred and secular music by women composers.  The internationally acclaimed ensemble uses period instruments and historically-informed performance practice to showcase the work of women composers from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, as well as contemporary works. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, La Donna Musicale performs throughout the U.S. and internationally.

La Donna Musicale brings together world-renowned musicians and scholars to unearth, perform, and record music that, in many instances, has never been performed or recorded previously. Concerts have featured modern world premieres of works by Antonia Bembo, Anna Bon, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Julie Pinel, and Caterina Assandra, among others. Under the leadership of founding director Laury Gutiérrez, the ensemble translates the concept of historical performance into live and recorded music. Collaborating scholars, experts in their field, include Claire Fontijn, Robert Kendrick, Thierry Favier, Catherine E. Gordon-Seifert, David Lasocki, and Rebecca Messbarger.

Since its inception, La Donna Musicale has educated listeners through outreach programs, workshops, pre-concert lectures, extensive and informative CD liner and program notes, radio programs, and via its website which features online audio files. The Ensemble has also participated in music education series such as Harvard University’s Meet the Performer, and has been lauded by Early Music America as an ensemble that performs “…outstanding music stylishly performed…”  Each of La Donna Musicale’s four ground-breaking CDs of music by Antonia Bembo and Julie Pinel and Anna Bon has received national and international accolades."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Category: Ensembles/Performers/Associations/Societies / Ensembles/Consorts

Added on: Mar 08, 2008 | Hits: 343