Cristina Prats-Costa, violin Jonathan Stuchbery, lute Lucas Harris, lute Naghmeh Farahman, Persian percussion A Journey Through the Iberian Baroque A multifaceted sonic tour of old-world Spain
Gentileschi Baroque Ensemble is a dynamic period instrument ensemble dedicated to uncovering and performing the extraordinary music of women composers from the Baroque era. With a mission to bring these often-overlooked voices to the forefront, the ensemble combines scholarly insight with vibrant, historically informed performance.
This evocative program features a diverse array of composers whose music draws on sacred devotion, theatrical drama, virtuosic chamber writing, and popular dance. From the expressive sacred songs of Juan Francés de Iribarren to the dazzling guitar works of Santiago de Murcia and the haunting recercadas of Antonio Martin y Coll, this concert celebrates the rich and vibrant musical landscape of the Iberian world from the mid-sixteenth to the early eighteenth century.
Shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, this repertoire reflects a multi-ethnic and stylistically diverse heritage, where courtly refinement coexists with folk rhythms and improvisatory freedom. Grounded in dance, ornamentation, and rhetorical expression, these works reveal a sound world of striking contrasts—intimate and exuberant, devotional and theatrical.
Curated by Toronto-based Spanish violinist Cristina Prats Costa, the program offers a deeply personal journey into the colours and rhythms of Iberian Baroque music, illuminating a tradition whose expressive power and rhythmic vitality continue to resonate today.