Starry Messenger: Musical Revelations of Galileo’s Florence

Friday, March 31 – April 2, 2017

Folger Shakespeare Library

Folger Consort and the Italian Cultural Institute invite you to an intimate and otherworldly concert of 17^th-century Italian music featuring the much-admired early music soprano Julianne Baird, hailed as “one of the most extraordinary voices in the service of early music that this generation has produced.” (The New York Times) Ms. Baird and Folger Consort co-artistic directors Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall will also be joined by acclaimed musicians Risa Browder (violin), John Moran (viol), and Webb Wiggins (harpsichord). This program includes enchanting operatic arias and dramatic songs by Claudio Monteverdi, lute music by Galileo’s father Vincenzo Galilei, and brilliant early violin sonatas and keyboard pieces. 

An hour prior to the 3 pm and 7 pm performances on April1, guests are invited to explore the Library’s current exhibition, 500 Years of Treasures from Oxford for “Cases Come Alive” –an interactive and informal tour of treasures from Corpus Christi College Oxford led by the Folger’s docents.  The exhibition includes an early printing of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger).

PURCHASE TICKETS: HERE

Tickets: $40, available online or by calling the Folger box office at (202) 544-7077.