Music of Hildegard to be Performed at National Cathedral

Folger Consort, the early music ensemble in residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library, performs two concerts of A Branch of Freshest Green: Music of Hildegard von Bingen, Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3, 2018 in the Gothic nave of Washington National Cathedral. Celebrating the legacy of Hildegard von Bingen, the program intersperses works by the great 12th-century visionary and composer with works by contemporary female composers arranged for medieval instruments and voices. Folger Consort artistic co-directors Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall will be joined by the all-female vocal ensemble, Trio Eos, and multi-instrumentalists Shira Kammen and Christa Patton.

Individual tickets are $50 and may be purchased at the Folger box office at (202) 544-7077 or online at www.folger.edu/consort. Discounts are available for students, senior citizens, military personnel and families, teachers, and groups.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

In the spectacular setting of the historic Washington National Cathedral, Folger Consort presents the soaring and ecstatic melodies of the great 12th-century mystic, visionary, and composer Hildegard von Bingen, alongside works by living female composers in a program reflecting on Hildegard's spiritual legacy. These composers and their works, in special arrangements for medieval instruments and female voices, include Susan Botti's "Bird Songs," selections from Kate Soper's "Songs for Nobody," Shulamit Ran's "Credo/Ani Ma'amin" and instrumental arrangements by Shira Kammen.

ABOUT TRIO EOS

Trio Eos illuminates the profound beauty of the female voice and its full range of expression over the ages. Comprised of sopranos Michele Kennedy and Jessica Beebe and mezzo-soprano Maren Montalbano, the Trio performs music from the early Middle Ages through the Twenty-First Century, championing works by emerging composers. Through a multiyear performance residency at the Museum of Biblical Art, Eos commissioned new works by Robinson McClellan and performed pieces by Elizabeth Meade, Richard Einhorn, Rebecca Clarke, and Karen Siegel. Eos' recent performances include chants of Hildegard von Bingen with Sympho Orchestra, works by Matthew Schickele in the Five Boroughs Music Festival, and a program with the Music at St. Paul's Series at Columbia University. Trio Eos has performed medieval music programs at The Cloisters Branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Folger Shakespeare Library in DC, and at New York's Corpus Christi Church, where they competed in the national finals for the Early Music America competition for emerging artists.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Pre-Concert Discussion: WETA's Robert Aubry Davis

Friday, February 2, 2013, 6:30pm

Artistic co-director Robert Eisenstein and national radio personality Robert Aubry Davis (WETA) are joined by composer Susan Botti for a lively pre-concert discussion. Admission is free, with a ticket for the evening performance.

About Folger Consort & Folger Shakespeare Library:

Celebrating over 40 years at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Folger Consort has delighted audiences with a stunning array of early music spanning roughly 600 years of repertoire. With a variety of world-class guest artists, from virtuoso soloists to large choirs and orchestras, Folger Consort has performed masterpieces from the most renowned composers to hidden treasures from those who might otherwise be lost to history. With season concerts in the intimate setting of the Folger's Elizabethan Theatre, as well as grand spaces such as Washington National Cathedral and the Kennedy Center, Folger Consort has also toured nationally and internationally to Shakespeare's Globe and other prestigious venues.

Among other awards and critical acclaim for its performances and recordings, Folger Consort has received five awards for Best Classical Chamber Ensemble from the Washington Area Music Awards. Janet Alexander Griffin serves as Artistic Producer, and David Mozur is the Folger Consort Manager. For more on Folger Consort, visit www.folger.edu/folger-consort.

Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. The Folger welcomes millions of visitors online and in person. We provide unparalleled access to a huge array of resources, from original sources to modern interpretations. With the Folger, you can experience the power of perfor­mance, the wonder of exhibitions, and the excitement of pathbreaking research. We offer the opportunity to see and even work with early modern sources, driving discovery and transform­ing education for students of all ages. Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore. Join us online, on the road, or in Washington, DC. Learn more at www.folger.edu

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