Salon/Sanctuary Concerts to Present LeStrange Viols in Concert, 3/3

Though often imagined as a primarily English ensemble, the viol consort had a rich history in France as another vehicle for that nation's characteristically colorful and expressive musical imagination. Our program will feature some wonderful examples of this gorgeous repertoire, from the intricate song settings for viols by de Lassus to the majestic ensemble music of Carissimi's teacher Charpentier and the Italian transplant Giovanni Battista Lulli, otherwise known as Lully.

Loren Ludwig & John Mark Rozendaal, treble viols
Kivie Cahn-Lipman & James Waldo, tenor viols
Zoe Weiss & Douglas Kelley, bass viols

A wine and cheese reception will follow the performance.

LeStrange Viols was formed in 2014 to record the modern premier of William Cranford's consort music. By that time the musicians of LeStrange had already established themselves as a crack team of American consort players. Their many previous appearances together in diverse musical combinations and their experience in acclaimed American ensembles allow LeStrange to craft refined and vigorous performances of intricate gems of the consort repertory. Members of LeStrange Viols have been featured performers with ACRONYM, Arcadia Viols, Amherst Early Music Festival, The Newberry Consort, Folger Consort, The King's Noyse, Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, Trio Settecento, The Oberlin Consort of Viols, Helios Opera, Quaver, Hesperus, Sonnambula, New York Consort of Viols, Parthenia, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Brandywine Baroque.

LeStrange's debut CD made the New Yorker's list of notable recordings of 2015. Since its CD release, the ensemble has thrilled audiences at summer festivals and in a triumphant NYC debut recital. LeStrange's 2016 engagements include a concert of French repertoire for the prestigious Salon Sanctuary series (New York); and a collaboration with early music legend, soprano Julianne Baird, for Amherst Early Music (New London, CT).

LeStrange Viols takes its name from an important manuscript collection assembled by the 17th-century English nobleman Nicholas Lestrange.