Aston Magna Music Festival, St. James Place, Great
Barrington MA
July 22, 2017
by Barbara Stroup
To conclude their 45th season, Aston Magna Festival offered
a concert of 16th century court music, and related their program specifically
to the “first woman of the Renaissance,” Isabella d’Este. The concert was
thematically organized, beginning with “Infidelity” and ending with “Time to
Fish”! Evidently, both of these activities were plentiful; because of her
voluminous letter writing, we know they both affected Isabella’s life. Excerpts
from her letters (over 12,000 survive), were read with clarity and drama by
violist Laura Jeppesen, and were an apt introduction to each section of the
program. They ranged from poignant words to the humorous, and were effective in
drawing modern listeners into the daily life of a 16th century woman of
privilege.
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| Deborah Rentz-Moore and Aaron Sheehan |
Featured were singers Deborah Retz-Moore (mezzo) and Aaron
Sheehan (tenor). Both had total command of the music and complimented each
other and the instruments well. Although the first half labored to overcome the
aural limitations of tessitura and dynamic range, it was highlighted by the
“J’ay pris amours” set. This melody (hit song of the age) wears well.
Laura Jeppesen on tenor and bass viol, were joined by Jane
Hershey and Emily Walhout on similar instruments. Their ensemble was solid and
secure, their sound clear and smooth, and Walhout’s treble playing especially
engaging. It might benefit other ensembles for these instrumentalists to share
their secret of playing in perfect tune without frequent onstage re-tuning of
their gut-strung viols. Isabella, patroness of musicians, poets, and artists
would have enjoyed this musical offering.
