The Boston Camerata’s overseas fall touring season began in October with two performances of Anne Azéma’s original program, “The Spark of the Soul,” based on the life and writings of the medieval German mystic, Meister Eckhardt.

Azéma and viellist/lutenist/reader Susanne Ansorg sang, spoke, and played their way through an original mini-anthology of thirteenth century works before audiences in Rosheim, Alsace, and Paris. The first concert took place in the medieval church of Rosheim and the
second in the spectacular, newly-restored Roman frigidarium at the Abbey/Museum of Cluny.

The Paris concert was the inaugural musical event in the world-famous, freshly renovated Cluny space.

In November, a larger Camerata cohort travels to Germany for a performance of the ensemble’s famed “Tristan and Iseult” production, presented under the auspices of the West German Radio. Anne Azéma will once again incarnate Iseult the Blonde, a role for which she shared the Grand Prix du Disque, with Aaron Engebreth, who first undertook the challenging part in 2008, cast in the role of Tristan.

This is going to be a busy, musical fall!

Anne Azéma and the Camerata begin the 2009 season with a series of medieval music presentations in France and in Germany.

Anne’s program around the life and thought of the German mystic Meister Eckhardt will be heard twice in France in October. “L’étincelle de l’âme”, with Camerata soloist Susanne Ansorg, will be performed in the bilingual border region of Alsace, where Eckhardt once lived, on October 3 (Rosheim, Festival Voix et Routes Romanes), and then October 7 in Paris (Musée National du Moyen Age, Thermes et Hotel de Cluny). (more…)

In the best tradition of wandering minstrelsy, Camerata is literally all over the map this fall. We told you about European activity in the previous post…here’s a rundown of our early-autumn activity in our own country.

On October 30, seventeen of Boston’s finest early music performers, directed by Anne Azéma, will appear onstage at Calvin College, Grand Rapids Michigan, as that distinguished institution extends its third invitation to The Boston Camerata. On November 1, the same consort is welcomed to the Cathedral Concerts Series of Saint Louis, Missouri. On November 6, we are in Dordt College, Iowa. And finally, on November 8, we return home with a performance at Memorial Church, Harvard University. (more…)