RENATA DUBINSKAITĖ (mezzo-soprano)
ALINA ROTARU (harpsichord)
ALINA ROTARU (harpsichord)
2019 marks the four-hundredth anniversary of Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677), one of the first female composers and baroque singer-virtuoso. The illegitimate daughter of the poet and librettist Giulio Strozzi grew up in an advanced intellectual environment in Venice. She studied music from an early age with Francesco Cavalli, a student of Claudio Monteverdi and the most famous opera creator of the time; led the club of intellectuals “Accademia degli Unisoni”. B. Strozzi’s name is recorded among the most prominent of the 17th century names of Italian music creators. She made a significant contribution to the development of a new genre of music, the cantata, and published as many as 8 sets of her works - more than the other most famous composers of the time managed to publish while they were alive. She achieved this without having a permanent patron or the support of the church. In a male-dominated society, this courageous woman managed to be both a leader, an incomparable singer (la virtuossima cantatrice), and a unique creator whose musical visions still move listeners many centuries later. To perform her cantatas and arias, mostly written for a wide-ranging female voice, one requires particularly virtuosic technique and knowledge of Baroque style and rhetoric. In these works, like mini-operas, especially emotional, melodious and dramatic love experiences are conveyed - unexpected dissonances, sudden jumps, dynamic change of episodes and contrasting moods immerse the listeners in a real emotional drama.
In Renata Dubinskaitė’s recital, prepared with harpsichordist Alina Rotaru, B. Strozzi’s work is presented in such detail for the first time in Lithuania. The concert features works from all of the composer’s published collections, except for “Opus 1” (as it contains only polyphonic madrigals) and “Opus 4”, which has been lost. The music is complemented by the singer’s stories about the life and work of B. Strozzi, introducing the listeners to this inspiring woman and talented composer.
In Renata Dubinskaitė’s recital, prepared with harpsichordist Alina Rotaru, B. Strozzi’s work is presented in such detail for the first time in Lithuania. The concert features works from all of the composer’s published collections, except for “Opus 1” (as it contains only polyphonic madrigals) and “Opus 4”, which has been lost. The music is complemented by the singer’s stories about the life and work of B. Strozzi, introducing the listeners to this inspiring woman and talented composer.
Ticket price - 5 Eur
Tickets can be purchased at the box office of “Bilietai LT”, online www.bilietai.lt (service fees apply), one hour before the event at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania box office.
Discounts for children, students, seniors and people with disabilities apply.
The festival is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
