Dear Lutesong patrons and friends
Best wishes for 2026! As we all gently ease ourselves back into the saddle, we are excited to share some details about our upcoming performances for the first quarter of the year. Get your diaries to save the dates!
28 January
Baxter Concert Hall, Rondebosch, 7:30 pm
Music and the sensuality of harmony
As part of the UCT Summer school, the renowned South African composer Grant Maclachlan will present a lecture recital on harmony and its ability to evoke emotions and pleasure. Lutesong Consort will perform music by Hildegard von Bingen, Dunstaple, Tallis, Purcell, Monteverdi, Bach, Chausson, Poulenc and Kern. The programme also includes a new work by Maclachlan, entitled "Summer", composed on a poem by Archie Swanson. With Mia-Lana Slier, Elsabé Richter, Lente Louw, Willem Bester and Keaton Manwaring.
Book here: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/seating.aspx?itemid=1575284241
5 February
St George's Cathedral, Cape Town 13:15-14:00
Cupid's Arrow
Lutesong Consort will perform their popular "Cupid's Arrow" programme in the St George's Unplugged concert series. The programme features both heart-wrenching and toe-tapping vocal duets, inspired by the pleasures and pains of love: a condition we pursue, relish, endure or flee, all depending on the seemingly arbitrary aim of Cupid, that most mischievous son of Mars and Venus. With works by Monteverdi, Strozzi, Frescobaldi, Merula, Kapsberger and Sances, performed by Lente Louw and Lusibalwethu Sesanti, Uwe Grosser (lute, baroque guitar) and Vera Vukovic (chitarrone).
Entry is free, but donations are welcome.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
13-21 February
John Dowland Anniversary Festival
This year marks the 400th year anniversary of the death of John Dowland. To celebrate his work as the father of the lute song genre to which we owe our name, Lutesong Consort will present a series of events, including two concerts:
20 February
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 19:00
Concert 1: Diving into Dowland
All local singers interested in early music will be invited to participate in a workshop and masterclasses on 13 and 14 February with Lutesong founders Lente Louw and Uwe Grosser. Participants from these will then perform this concert of some of Dowland's "greatest hits" such as Flow my Tears, Come again sweet love and Can she excuse my wrongs as solos and ensembles, accompanied by Uwe Grosser (lute) and Colleen Oxtoby (viola da gamba).
21 February
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, 19:00
Concert 2: From heart to tongue
This concert will feature a large selection of rarely performed songs from Dowland's fourth book of songs entitled "A Pilgrime's Solace" (1612). With Elsabé Richter, Lente Louw, Willem Bester, Keaton Manwaring (voices), Uwe Grosser (lute), Colleen Oxtoby and Rosamund Roth (viola da gamba).
13 March
Endler Concert Hall, Stellenbosch, 19:00
Cupid's Arrow
We are honoured to have been invited to perform "Cupid's Arrow" as part of the Endler Prestige Concert Series.
15 March
Helderberg Village, Somerset West, 16:00
Baroque Noir
Members of the Lutesong Consort present songs for mezzo soprano composed over a variety of bass ostinato patterns. These compositions are often haunting, hypnotic or melancholy in character, in support of some rather deep and dark poetry. Songs by Purcell, Krieger, Merula and Monteverdi are interspersed with atmospheric solos for viola da gamba. With Lente Louw (mezzo soprano), Rosamund Roth (viola da gamba) and Uwe Grosser (lute, chitarrone, baroque guitar).
1 and 2 April
Cape Town
Passion: Motets for Holy Week
“Passion” is a programme of twelve motets from predominantly the 16th century, performed by six solo singers. It is curated especially for reflection on the Passion of Christ during Holy Week, with each work depicting one of the last significant events of His earthly life. With works by Christopher Tye, Orlando di Lasso, Thomas Luis de Victoria, Hermann Schein, Andreas Hammerschmidt, Carlo Gesualdo and Johan Sebastian Bach. With Lynelle Kenned, Elsabé Richter, Lente Louw, Willem Bester, Van Wyk Venter, Keaton Manwaring (singers), Kevin Kraak (organ) and Uwe Grosser (chitarrone).
Performance 1:
1 April, 19:00 St Andrews Presbyterian Church, De Waterkant, Cape Town
Performance 2:
2 April, 19:00, Rondebosch Dutch Reformed Church, Derry Road, Cape Town
MORE INFORMATION, AS WELL AS BOOKING DETAILS FOR ALL OF THESE, WILL BE PROVIDED SOON.
We look forward to welcome you at some of these!
Kind regards
Lente and Uwe
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