Event

SCMS presents Les Délices

Les Délices (pronounced Lay day-lease) explores the dramatic potential and emotional resonance of long-forgotten music. Founded by baroque oboist Debra Nagy in 2009, Les Délices has established a reputation for their unique programs that are thematically concise, richly expressive, and featuring composers few people have heard of. The New York Times added, Concerts and recordings by Les Délices are journeys of discovery. The groups debut CD was named one of the Top Ten Early Music Discoveries of 2009 (NPRs Harmonia), and their performances have been called a beguiling experience (Cleveland Plain Dealer), astonishing (ClevelandClassical.com), and first class (Early Music America Magazine).

Rising-star soprano Clara Rottsolk is featured in this program, which was released as Les Délices second CD recording in November 2012. Myths & Allegories weaves dramatic depictions of tales from Homers Odyssey together with instrumental chamber music inspired by Greek mythology, and features cantatas by Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (Le Sommeil dUlisse) and Thomas-Louis Bourgeois (Les Sirènes). The hero Ulysses confronts storms at sea, shipwrecks, the tantalizing allure of siren songs, and encounters with the Cyclopes all set to music in the course of this colorful, fantastic program. Even Ulysses long-faithful wife pines from afar as symbolized by Jean-Féry Rebels violin sonata La Fidelle.