Music

The Hildegard Consort Makes Its Debut

A new ensemble of professional singers, calling themselves The Hildegard Consort, makes its debut this week with the first of three performances in area churches of a program titled Old Wine, New Skins: Sacred Music of the “Stile Antico.”  The ensemble’s director, Felipe Gasper, talks to St.John Flynn about this inaugural concert.

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In contrast to many choirs and vocal ensembles, The Hildegard Consort generally uses only one singer per vocal part. This approach to the music they sing allows the audience to enjoy each individual performer’s voice rather than an entire voice section made up of many singers.

The ensemble’s inaugural concert features music of the “stile antico”—Baroque composers imitating the “old style” of Renaissance polyphony using the emergent harmonic and vocal language of the early Baroque.  The performances include works by Palestrina, Heinrich Schütz, and Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti. The highlight is a complete performance of Domenico Scarlatti’s “Madrid” Mass.

The Hildegard Consort gives three performances of Old Wine, New Skins: Sacred Music of the “Stile Antico.”:

  • Tuesday, January 28, 7:00pm. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd (Rice Village).
  • Sunday, February 2, 4:30pm. Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy (downtown).
  • Sunday, February 16, 7:00pm.  Annunciation Catholic Church, 1618 Texas Ave (Downtown).

For more information, visit The Hildegard Consort online.