In the dazzling courts of late Renaissance Italy, a remarkable musical phenomenon took shape: musica secreta – music performed in private chambers for select listeners, rather than in public spaces. At the heart of this world was the Concerto delle donne, an extraordinary ensemble of professional female singers at the Este court in Ferrara. Praised across Europe for their technical brilliance and expressive nuance, these women redefined what voices could do and inspired composers to pursue new expressive possibilities in vocal writing.
The term concerto delle donne literally means a “consort of ladies.” Though informal groups of skilled female amateurs had existed earlier, it was the professional trio of women sponsored by Alfonso II d’Este that became legendary. Formed around 1580 as part of the Duke’s musica secreta, this ensemble performed highly ornamented, virtuosic songs for discerning audiences drawn from the nobility. Their dazzling artistry soon set a new standard for vocal music in Italy and reverberated through European courts.
This programme resurrects the spirit of those secret performances, celebrating works by the very composers who wrote for these voices, alongside a brilliant contemporary response, weaving together centuries of creativity and female musical power.
