Madrigals of Love & War

Friday, November 8, 2024 at 7:30PM
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby St, Google Maps)

Claudio Monteverdi’s Madrigals of Love and War transformed a venerable genre—the Renaissance part song—into dramatic scenes that rival the flamboyant art of Caravaggio or Bernini. By updating an old musical form, Monteverdi created a repertoire that is both timeless and singular: few madrigals from any age hold a candle to these masterworks for multiple voices and instruments.

Featured artists:
Erica Schuller, soprano
Amia Langer, soprano
Michael Skarke, countertenor
Steven Brennfleck, tenor
Thomas O'Neill, tenor
Enrico Lagasca, bass-baritone

Explore the full 2024/25 season here.

In-person subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased through the Hobby Center website, or by calling 713-315-2525 (option 4).

Digital subscriptions and livestream tickets may be purchased through the Ars Lyrica website.

From Artistic Director Matthew Dirst’s program notes: Hor ch’el ciel e la terra begins with a whisper, with “heaven, earth, and wind [all] silent,” only to burst forth into anguished song as the poet “wakes, thinks, burns, and weeps” with the memory of the beloved.

This Ars Lyrica recording is from 2012! Twelve years later, we are thrilled to bring back this beautiful madrigal to the Zilkha Hall stage (and of course with higher quality livestream for our digital viewers).

"Lidia, spina del mio core" is another madrigal by Monteverdi, performed by Ars Lyrica Houston in 2019. The title means "Lidia, spine of my heart," reflecting themes of love and longing.

While this particular madrigal won’t be performed on November 8, we include it to give a sense of Monteverdi’s innovative use of expressive melody and harmony.