Off to the Nunnery
Donald Macleod on Strozzi's final years, when she worked to secure a better future for her children, having failed to find a rich patron who might have supported her and her family.
This week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Barbara Strozzi. She was one of the most important composers of Italian cantatas in the seventeenth century and, probably, also a Venetian courtesan. Strozzi published eight collections of vocal works during her lifetime containing over one hundred works in total, and her music travelled as far as Austria, Germany and England. Dr Sara Pecknold joins Donald Macleod to help lift the veil on this elusive composer.
By the late 1650s, there are reports of many musical activities taking place at the home of Barbara Strozzi. She was still publishing collections of music, which she dedicated to nobles and powerful people. Strozzi was seeking a patron, which she never achieved. During her final years she was keen to secure a better future for her children, and one of them became a nun, and another a monk. Strozzi's last publication was in 1664, but we know that she didn't stop composing at this point. In 1677 she travelled to Padua where she died at the age of 58.
Parasti in dulcedine, Op 5 No 8
Maria Cristina Kiehr, soprano
Concerto Soave
Lilla crudele: Lilla mia, non ti doler, Op 6 No 9
Doroth茅e Leclair, soprano
Yasunori Imamura, theorbo
Lea Rachel Bader, baroque cello
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord
Lamento: Lagrime mie, a che vi trattenete?, Op 7 No 4
Susanne Ryd茅n, soprano
Musica Fiorita
L'astratto, Op 8 No 4
Judith Nelson, soprano
William Christie, harpsichord
Christophe Coin, baroque cello
John Hutchinson, harp
Salve sancta caro, Op 5 No 4
Maria Cristina Kiehr, soprano
Concerto Soave
Donna non sa che dice, Op 3 No 7
Christine Brandes, soprano
Kurt-Owen Richards, bass
New York Baroque
Eric Milnes, director
Desideri vani, Op 3 No 11
Christine Brandes, soprano
Jennifer Lane, mezzo-soprano
Kurt-Owen Richards, bass
New York Baroque
Eric Milnes, director
Producer Luke Whitlock.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Parasti in dulcedine
Singer: Mar铆a Cristina Kiehr. Ensemble: Concerto Soave.- Harmonia Mundi:ED13048.
- 10.
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Lilla crudele: Lilla mia, non ti doler
Performer: Yasunori Imamura. Performer: Lea Rachel Bader. Performer: Jory Vinikour. Singer: Dorothee Leclair.- Querstand VKJK1303.
- 10.
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Lagrime mie, a che vi trattenete
Performer: Musica Fiorita. Singer: Susanne Ryd茅n. -
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
尝鈥檃蝉迟谤补迟迟辞
Performer: William Christie. Performer: Christophe Coin. Performer: John Hutchinson. Singer: Judith Nelson.- Harmonia Mundi: HMX2901114.
- 1.
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Salve sancta caro
Singer: Mar铆a Cristina Kiehr. Orchestra: Concerto Soave.- Harmonia Mundi ED13048.
- 14.
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Donna non sa che dice
Singer: Christine Brandes. Singer: Kurt-Owen Richards. Orchestra: New York Baroque. Director: Eric Milnes.- Dorian DOR93218.
- 11.
-
![]()
Barbara Strozzi
Desideri vani
Singer: Christine Brandes. Singer: Jennifer Lane. Singer: Kurt-Owen Richards. Orchestra: New York Baroque. Director: Eric Milnes.- Dorian DOR93218.
- 8.
Broadcasts
- Fri 11 Mar 2016 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 11 Mar 2016 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 27 Apr 2018 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.