The composer students of Francesco Cavalli : Barbara Strozzi, Antonia Bembo and Isabella Leonarda

Leonardo Garcia Alarcon, who is one of the rising generation of conductors from a baroque background, is leading a major research project on the specific parameters which make up musical performance: tempo, articulation, range, temperament, technique and vocal sound production. He pays particular attention to improvisation techniques and the relationship between text and music, and works mainly on the performance of seventeenth-century Italian music.
As a prelude to the 29th Ambronay Festival, this course is designed for solo singers, instrumentalists and madrigal ensembles and aims to put into practice the results of this research work with a rich and little-known repertoire of motets and madrigals by Barbara Strozzi, Isabella Leonarda and Antonia Bembo.

AREAS OF STUDY

• Solo work

• Choral work

• Instrumental accompaniment work

REPERTOIRE

Motets and madrigals for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 voices by Barbara Strozzi, Antonia Bembo and Isabella Leonarda.

MUSICAL FORCES

Sopranos (6); Mezzo sopranos and/or countertenors (3); Tenors (3); Basses (3); Violas da gamba and cellos (3); Organ and harpsichord (2); Theorbo, archlute and guitar (3); Harp (1)

PROGRAMME

Monday 21 July 2008
9h30-19h: ‘Le Petit Plus d'Ambronay' - Discovery day

Tuesday 22 - Friday 25 July
10h-13h: Musical workshop with each participant
16h30-20h: Musical work with the whole group

Saturday 26 July
11h-13h: Musical work with the whole group
14h-15h: Regroup
17h: End of course performance

Teaching fee

260 euros (teaching fee and lunches)
225 euros for participants of the European Baroque Academy (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008).

Accommodation can be provided in Ambronay (bedrooms of 4-6 beds): 140 euros (night, evening meals and breakfast). Fore more details.
Participant arrival: Sunday, 20^th (evening) or Monday, 21^st (before 10 am)
Participant departure: Saturday, 26^th (evening) or Sunday, 27^th (before noon).