COMING EVENTS

Love’s Labyrinth:  Venetian love letters

Sumptuous songs and madrigals by two supreme Venetian composers of their day: Barbara Strozzi and Claudio Monteverdi

Friday 26 June 2026

St Denis's Church, Llanishen, Monmouthshire NP16 6QS - 7.30pm

With soprano Maisie O'Shea

Writing at the turn of the C17th, Monteverdi and Strozzi were both pioneers of a new dramatic style that can still pack a punch today.

The concert will highlight some astonishing songs and Madrigals of Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi heard alongside those of her illustrious contemporary Claudio Monteverdi. Famed as a talented singer and courtesan in her own time, Strozzi led an intriguing life in a male-dominated world: her rise to fame resulted in her having more works published than Monteverdi.

Renowned for its arresting and emotional style, her music is well suited to expressing the joys and trials of lovers.

Pieces from Monteverdi's extraordinary books of madrigals provide the complementary highlight in our programme. Their bold use of dissonance and word-painting was groundbreaking and paved the way for many important developments in music history.

Also contributing much variety to proceedings we welcome soprano Maisie O'Shea, a specialist in this early baroque style and an avid advocate of overlooked woman composers. Maisie studied vocal performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She directs the vocal octet Solstice. With broad musical interests, Maisie has recorded new and forgotten works as a soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, performed newly published works in collaboration with the Holst Society, and created a new operatic role at Atmospheres Festival.

Tickets £15, refreshments available.

Love’s Labyrinth:  Venetian love letters

Sumptuous songs and madrigals by two supreme Venetian composers of their day: Barbara Strozzi and Claudio Monteverdi

Saturday 4 July 2026

St Peter's Church, Llanwenarth Citra NP7 7EP - 7.00pm

With soprano Maisie O'Shea

Writing at the turn of the C17th, Monteverdi and Strozzi were both pioneers of a new dramatic style that can still pack a punch today.

The concert will highlight some astonishing songs and Madrigals of Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi heard alongside those of her illustrious contemporary Claudio Monteverdi. Famed as a talented singer and courtesan in her own time, Strozzi led an intriguing life in a male-dominated world: her rise to fame resulted in her having more works published than Monteverdi.

Renowned for its arresting and emotional style, her music is well suited to expressing the joys and trials of lovers.

Pieces from Monteverdi's extraordinary books of madrigals provide the complementary highlight in our programme. Their bold use of dissonance and word-painting was groundbreaking and paved the way for many important developments in music history.

Also contributing much variety to proceedings we welcome soprano Maisie O'Shea, a specialist in this early baroque style and an avid advocate of overlooked woman composers. Maisie studied vocal performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She directs the vocal octet Solstice. With broad musical interests, Maisie has recorded new and forgotten works as a soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, performed newly published works in collaboration with the Holst Society, and created a new operatic role at Atmospheres Festival.

Tickets £17.50 (including refreshments).