Cupid's Arrow

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Cupid’s Arrow

LOVE SONGS FROM THE 17^TH CENTURY

with

Lente Louw, Lusibalwethu Sesanti (mezzo sopranos)

Uwe Grosser (chitarrone, baroque guitar)

Rosamund Roth (viola da gamba)

Falling in love can be quite the ordeal. The harder one falls, the more one becomes aware of love’s duality, with its equal capacity for pleasure and pain. The mythology offers a handy explanation for this phenomenon in the form of Cupid: This mischievous offspring of Venus (goddess of love) and Mars (god of war) sets many a plot in motion when one of his arrows pierces the hearts of his innocent victims, causing them to plummet into a state of intense desire for the first person they see. The resulting euphoria is cruelly balanced with heartache and confusion, especially when the love is unrequited or inconvenient for the victim. These themes, thoroughly explored by ancient poets and composers, continue to echo into all the good love songs of today. Lutesong Consort presents a selection of poignant Italian love duets from (mostly) the 17^th century, accompanied by instruments appropriate for the time period. With music by Monteverdi, Strozzi, Sances, Kapsperger, Merula and Frescobaldi.

Italian with English subtitles

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