Sudden Passions

Imagine travelling with your life’s work in the hope that it would find acceptance in a new environment…

In a day and age where everything lies at one’s fingertips it can be hard to empathise with the practicalities of a world that does not exist anymore… At the height of the Renaissance, émigré musicians such as the Italian Alfonso Ferrabosco travelled across Europe in order to further their careers. These long journeys were often fraught with peril, and there was no guarantee of arrival on the other side.

In Sudden Passions, L’Isola has designed a programme which tracks the journey of the madrigal from Italy to the North, following in the exact footsteps of our composers. During this process we will also piece together history, unveiling new academic discoveries from the University of Cambridge.

Join us. The journey ahead may feel uncertain, but isn’t that part of the beauty?

This performance will be followed by an academic talk by L’Isola director Matthew Alec Gouldstone:

'How do we sing these songs in a strange land? The benefits of a diverse musical skill set for usage within Renaissance polyphony.' Historical performance in the 21st Century.