The Scen3

Guest harpsichordist joins baroque vocal ensemble A preview by Kelly Dean Hansen, April 1, 2024 Evanne Browne started the Boulder-based Seicento Baroque Ensemble in 2011 to share her passion for the often-neglected music of the 17th Century.  She explains that this is beautiful music audiences will not hear elsewhere, performed in a historically informed way […]

A preview by Betsy Schwarm In this case, ‘Rare Byrd’ is not an unexpected avian visitor.  Rather, Seicento Baroque Ensemble – drawing its name from the 17th century – will be spotlighting less familiar works by English composer William Byrd (1543 – 1623).  Sacred verse anthems, madrigals and secular consort songs, the latter for voices […]

A review by Marc Shulgold The concert’s title alliteratively promised “Magnificent Magnificats,” and indeed, the Baroque ensemble Seicento delivered. To celebrate a decade of music-making, the group, led by artistic director Amanda Balestrieri, offered an intriguing triple-header of upbeat choral works, each built on the same joyful Latin text. Heard Sunday afternoon in Boulder’s First […]

A review by Betsy Schwarm Photo credits: Britt Ripley “The show must go on:” a time-worn mantra that doesn’t allow for global pandemics.  From the Berlin Philharmonic to jazz ensembles at brew pubs, live music experiences are on hold.  With concert cancellations came the regrets of audience members who had long had those concerts marked on their calendars.  Even more poignant are the sorrows […]

A preview by Marc Shulgold The century-and-a-half known as the Baroque Era (1600-1750) has its undisputed musical superstars: Bach, Handel and Vivaldi. As great as they were, and as often performed as they are, those three tend to overshadow the hundreds – who knows? maybe thousands – of other composers of that day who are […]