A program of exquisite Courtly Love Ballads
from the Baroque throughout Europe
| Venue (click for map) | Date / time | Book here: |
| St Helens – Portland Memorial Hall | Saturday September 3 7:30pm | |
| Cygnet – Town Hall | Friday September 16 7:30pm | |
| Eaglehawk Neck – Community Hall | Saturday September 17 2:30pm | |
| SEASON PASS to Sequenza Amour Courtois AND Waldheim Songs & Other Stories feat. David and Quin Eaglehawk Neck – Community Hall | Saturday September 17 2:30pm AND Friday September 30 7:30pm | |
| Evandale – St Andrew’s Anglican Church | Sunday September 18 2:30pm | |
| Peacock Theatre Salamanca Arts Centre | Sunday 16 October 3:00pm | Book via SAC website |
After a long pandemic hiatus, Sequenza is delighted to resume a Tasmanian touring program with a program of lush courtly love ballads from the French, English and Italian Baroque traditions. The program includes songs by Couperin, Dowland, Caccini and more.
The program, entitled Amour Courtois, comprises songs which draw on the enduring literary idea of love in an age of nobility and chivalry. Courtly love was an experience of erotic desire and spiritual attainment combined: “a love at once illicit and morally elevating, passionate and disciplined, humiliating and exalting, human and transcendent”, according to F.X. Newman. “So in plainer language,” explains Quin Thomson, the group’s soprano, “the overarching theme of these works can more or less be boiled down to something like – I worship you because you’re amazing in every way, and obviously I am well out of my league; but also wow you are super mean!”
From this timelessly relatable starting point, Sequenza’s chosen composers – among the premier practitioners of the Baroque era – tease out a dazzling breadth of emotional range, the works from each nation incorporating stylistic elements which are peculiar to their respective geographical region, making for a lively and varied listening experience. The delicacy and flair that Sequenza brings to the interpretation of the work will be sure to delight Tasmanian audiences.
STOP PRESS!! If you are on the Peninsula, don’t miss the opportunity to attend this concert plus the wonderful Waldheim Songs and Other Stories program, featuring Sequenza members David Malone (classical guitar) and Quin Thomson (voice, composer). Follow the link above for more info, or hit the button below for a substantial season pass discount 🙂