The program will feature the madrigals of Heinrich Schütz from 1611 performed by a consort of prominent Philadelphia musicians: sopranos Jessica Beebe & Abigail Chapman, contralto Robin Bier, tenor John Leonard, and bass Steven Eddy.
These wonderful five-voiced a cappella pieces were the capstone project of the young German's composition studies with Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice. Schütz returned home shortly after to usher in the Baroque style in Germany that would ultimately reach its zenith with Johann Sebastian Bach. The artists will tell the story of these fascinating pieces and their important place in the musical canon during the program.

The Schütz Vocal Consort will be joined on the program by The College of New Jersey Chorale singing companion madrigals both new and old. The combined voices of the Chorale and professional vocal artists performing these madrigals in the wonderful acoustic of St. Paul's Chestnut Hill will be sure to please. The program will last about 1:15 hours.