MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

April 4, 2004

'Vespers of 1610' to Be Performed

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Northwestern University School of Music will present the 2004 Evelyn Dunbar Memorial Early Music Festival from May 13 to 16.

The festival events will be held at several venues on the Evanston campus, as noted below.

Highlighting the festival will be a May 16 performance of Claudio Monteverdi’s choral masterwork “Vespers of 1610” on original instruments, conducted by Northwestern faculty member Stephen Alltop, and a week-long residency by renowned Monteverdi scholar Jeffrey Kurtzman, professor of musicology at Washington University, St. Louis. The performance will feature combined forces of nearly 100. Other festival activities include an open rehearsal of the “Vespers” (May 15) and a master class (May 13) led by a panel of early music experts that will include Professor Kurtzman.

The “Vespers of 1610” is a work of grand proportion, demonstrating the remarkable drama, craft and contrapuntal mastery which made Monteverdi the outstanding composer of his age. Composed in 14 movements for chorus and orchestra, it features numerous solo vocal parts and a virtuoso instrumental accompaniment. The question of why it was written has never been resolved, but it seems to have been a compositional portfolio for Monteverdi, demonstrating his expertise in a variety of church music styles.

“It is rare for this remarkable collection of pieces to be performed with period wind and string instruments such as cornetti, sackbuts and a theorbo,” noted Northwestern conductor Alltop. ”We are delighted to be able to share this unique Evanston campus experience with the public.”

The annual Evelyn Dunbar Memorial Early Music Festival is made possible through the generous support of Northwestern alumni Ruth Dunbar Davee and her late husband, Ken M. Davee, in memory of Ruth’s sister, Evelyn Dunbar. Ms. Dunbar was an enthusiastic participant in early music ensembles at the University and stipulated, as part of her gift, that the festival include both students and members of the community.

The following festival events are open to the public and will be held at venues on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, as indicated below.

Early Music Master Class, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, Lutkin Hall, 700 University Place. Panelists Mary Springfels, Kurt Hansen, Stephen Alltop, David Douglass and Monteverdi scholar Jeffrey Kurtzman will critique singers and instrumentalists from Northwestern University and the community as they perform selections from Monteverdi’s “Vespers.” Admission is free. Interested participants should contact Stephen Alltop at swa440@northwestern.edu.

Open rehearsal of Monteverdi’s “Vespers of 1610,” 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15, Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free.

Monteverdi’s “Vespers of 1610,” 6 p.m. pre-concert talk and 7 p.m. concert, Sunday, May 16, Alice Millar Chapel and Religious Center. The 6 p.m. pre-concert talk at Vail Chapel (adjacent to Millar Chapel) will feature guest Monteverdi scholar Jeffrey Kurtzman. The 7 p.m. performance will feature Northwestern University student soloists, faculty conductor Stephen Alltop and the Alice Millar Chapel Choir; Mary Springfels, director of Northwestern’s Early Music Ensemble, and guest violinist David Douglass. Seating for both the talk and the concert will be on a first-come, first-seated basis. Admission to the pre-concert talk and concert is a freewill offering.

For more information, call Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at (847) 491-5441.