Migration and movement across borders has always fascinated the human race. But in a day and age where everything lies at one’s fingertips it can be hard to empathise with the practicalities of a world that does not exist anymore…

At the height of the Renaissance, émigré musicians such as the Italian Alfonso Ferrabosco travelled across Europe in order to further their careers. These long journeys were often fraught with peril, and there was no guarantee of arrival on the other side.

Any artistic material also had to travel alongside people. Imagine travelling with your life’s work in the hope that it would find acceptance in a new environment…

During the last quarter of the 16th Century the genre of the Italian madrigal flourished in Northern Europe, with composers travelling in both directions through the Low Countries, France, Germany and Austria in order to learn and bring their knowledge and expertise to flourishing cities like Antwerp and London. Through this period, this music also gained recognition through the printing press.

In Sudden Passions, L’Isola has designed a programme which tracks the journey of the madrigal from Italy to the North, following in the exact footsteps of our composers. During this process we will also piece together history, unveiling new academic discoveries from the University of Cambridge.

Join us. The journey ahead may feel uncertain, but isn’t that part of the beauty?

Musicians: 5 singers, 1 lutenist

Programme featuring music by Ferrabosco, Marenzio and Lasso.