The Academy’s last Year of Judith performance was included in the New York Times’ list of the best classical music moments of that week.
singers: Amanda Sidebottom, Sarah Brailey
master of ceremonies: Jeremy Rhizor
guest speaker: Michele Cabrini
genres: sacred drama, cantata, biblical drama, Baroque music, French music, instrumental music
The Academy of Sacred Drama presents two rarely heard French Baroque cantate focusing on the Judith story by Sébastien de Brossard and Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre. The cantate represent strikingly different approaches to the same text by Antoine Houdar de La Motte.
The evening includes snacks with time for conversation, instrumental sonatas, the Brossard and Jaquet de La Guerre cantate, and a lecture by Professor Michele Cabrini. Academy artistic director Jeremy Rhizor guides musicians and guests through the salon’s activities as the master of ceremonies.
This is the final performance of the Academy’s Year of Judith.
Musicians and Guest Speaker
Jeremy Rhizor, master of ceremonies and violin
Michele Cabrini, guest speaker
Amanda Sidebottom, soprano (Brossard cantata)
Sarah Brailey, soprano (Jacquet de La Guerre cantata)
Sarah Stone, cello and viola da gamba
Parker Ramsay, harpsichord
Program Order
Reception
Suite for Harpsichord No. 3 in A minor by Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729)
“Judith ou la mort d’Holopherne” by Sébastien de Brossard (1655–1630)
Contextual Lecture by Prof. Michele Cabrini
Intermission
Violin Sonata No. 5 in A minor by Jacquet de La Guerre
“Judith” by Jacquet de La Guerre
Media
View the facsimile of the manuscript of Sébastien de Brossard’s “Judith ou la mort d’Holopherne” at the Bibliothèque nationale de France here.