The Madrigal Reimagined

Monteverdi String Band have the privilege this year of opening the Little Missenden Festival, with a return to their much-loved programme of madrigals in multifarious guises. This fascinating programme explores the blossoming and transformation of the Italian madrigal as reflected in diverse settings from solo voice and lute to a full string band. We will discover every facet of the madrigal’s transformative journey from gentle part song to one of the dramatic cornerstones of opera.

Monteverdi’s powerfully poignant settings nestle with virtuosic ornamental reworkings of madrigals, instrumental preludes, and canzonas by Rore, Palestrina, Bovicelli, and Caccini to create miniature scenes, framed by short, topical readings from the worlds of music, dance and theatre.

Hannah Ely soprano
Toby Carr lute, theorbo
Oliver Webber and Theresa Caudle violins
Wendi Kelly and David Brooker violas
Mark Caudle bass violin