Madrigal Network

The Italian Renaissance was a period of great musical innovation. Modern compositional techniques can be traced back to the madrigals composed during the Renaissance. From Bulgaria to Vietnam, these madrigals have heavily influenced classical European and non-European tonal systems. Even their literary motifs seem surprisingly modern, as they are often based on clearly erotic and sexual themes, as well as death, desire and loss. The KlangForum Heidelberg has started a project titled Madrigal Network which presented these aspects of Renaissance-period compositions in a series of concerts. These musical miniatures were framed and linked by introductory pieces and interludes, specially composed for the concerts. The sometimes harsh and seemingly modern harmonic shifts in the madrigals remain one of the major challenges facing performers and composers today.

Artistic director: Walter Nußbaum
Participants: Schola Heidelberg, ensemble aisthesis

Venues and schedule:
Heidelberg, Zürich, Venice and other venues beginning in October 2009

21 October 2009, 8 pm, Providenzkirche, Heidelberg, Opening concert of Madrigal Network;
Artists / ensembles: SCHOLA HEIDELBERG, ensemble aisthesis, Reinhold Friedrich, Trumpet; Conductor: Walter Nußbaum
Program: Jan Kopp: Sieben Flechten UA
Caspar Johannes Walter: Merce UA
Cornelius Schwehr: Oimé ch'io moro UA
Madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo
Opening concert with the collaboration of the Enjoy Jazz Festival.