12. Coffee Concert

Behind Closed Doors is a programme devised by Ensemble Dagda telling one story of the women composers, who led flourishing careers in seventeenth century Italy and France. Beginning with the musica secreta of the Ferrarese court, women’s compositions were often heard behind closed doors, whether in courts, homes or cloisters and their composers excelled at creating dramatic scenes for chamber music combinations of voice, violins and continuo. Gradually the names of Barbara Strozzi, Francesca Caccini, Claudia Sessa, Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre and Isabella Leonarda, unknown to many of us until recently, are becoming more familiar as adventurous ensembles unfurl their music for us.

All works performed by Ensemble Dagda