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Dizikes Music Event: Voxfire

Sunday, February 8th, 2 PM, UCSC Music Recital Hall. Free parking.

This year's music event in honor of former Cowell Provost John Dizikes will feature some of the earliest Italian music written specifically for professional female singers, with accompaniment by therbo, baroque guitars, and lutes. The famous "three ladies: from Ferrara, sponsored by Duke Alfonso d'Este II (1533-1597) spawned numerous imitations, particularly at closely related Italian courts. As a result of the aura of secrecy surrounding the performances of the Ferrarese concerto di donne, ambassadors from the other courts were dispatched to Ferrara to listen to and emulate the style of the singing ladies. By the late 1580s, concerti di donne had become a courtly cliché in northern Italy: every princely household was expected to have at least one of these ensembles.

Voxfire will perform solos, duets, and trios by composers such as Barbara Strozzi, Giulio Caccini, Claudio Monteverdi, Luzzasco Luzzaschi, and several Naples-based musicians. Pre-concert introductory remarks by UCSC Associate Professor of Music, Nina Treadwell.

Light reception to follow.

For more information, please contact Deanna Shemek at .