The pleasure of watching the talented singers and musicians of the Folger Consort perform A Renaissance Christmas is a Christmas present of the highest order. The Folger Consort’s dedication to their craft and the joy in their faces during last night’s performance was contagious.
…a wonderful example of choral balance and control.
Founded in 1977, the Folger Consort is the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library and their yearly Holiday performance has a reputation for engaging audiences with European Christmases past. This year’s A Renaissance Christmas focused on the music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500 and included instrumental and choral works by well-known Renaissance composers such as Antoine Busnois, Jacob Obrecht, Johannes Ockeghem, Loyset Comépre and Josquin des Perez.
The most impressive part of the performance is examining by sight and sound the wide array of period instruments utilized by the five person instrumental ensemble. The ensemble includes Anna Marsh and Daniel Stillman on wind instruments and Christa Patton on harp, recorder and bagpipe. Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein performs on the viol and recorder and Mark Rimple on the lute.
As the only female vocal ensemble member, soprano Emily Noël exhibits masterful control over both her voice and the audience, effortlessly emoting holiday spirit. Baritone Michael McCarthy’s powerful voice blended seamlessly with tenor Aaron Sheehan and Baritone Matt Sullivan. A Renaissance Christmas is a wonderful example of choral balance and control.
A unique part of the performance was Rimple’s turn as countertenor, a vocal part most commonly utilized in Renaissance compositions. Another, “that’s cool!” moment was when Eisenstein took a moment to explain the improvisational origins of the three La Spagna instrumentals at the end of the first half of the performance.
A Renaissance Christmas is a taste of Renaissance music from throughout Italy and Flanders, ranging from mass cycles the high style of 15th century polyphony of Northern Europe to the tuneful and straightforward style of Northern Italians composing for the Duke of Milan. Educational, engaging and seasonal, A Renaissance Christmas is a wonderful introduction to the way Christmas was celebrated in a different culture and time through song.
Running Time: One hour and forty-five minutes, twenty-minute intermission.
A Renaissance Christmas runs through December 23, 2014 at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St., SE, Washington, DC 20003. For tickets click here.
