January 1-7
Exhibit: Strong Women in Renaissance Italy
Through more than 100 works from the 14th to the early 17th century, this exhibition explores the lives and experiences of women in Renaissance Italy and offers new perspectives on female creativity, power, and agency. Learn about Sofonisba Anguissola, who served at the court of King Phillip II of Spain and painted more self-portraits than any other artist in Renaissance Italy. One of her self-portraits shows her holding a large shield-like object inscribed with her signature, declaring she painted it. See Renaissance interpretations of historical figures, like a bronze bust of Cleopatra showing the Egyptian queen as pensive and noble rather than seductive and dangerous—a work likely commissioned by Isabella d’Este, one of Renaissance Italy’s most influential patrons of the arts. Get to know the story of Gracia Nasi, a Jewish woman from a powerful family, through the portrait medal cast to celebrate her marriage. Women in Renaissance Italy faced challenges and barriers to equity, education, and influence. But they often found ways to work around or overcome the institutional structures of their time. The mix of sculpture, paintings, ceramics, textiles, fashion accessories, illustrated books, and prints in this exhibition reveals the material lives of Renaissance women and tells empowering and inspiring stories that have long gone untold.
Daily admission - Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA
https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/strong-women-in-renaissance-italy
Through more than 100 works from the 14th to the early 17th century, this exhibition explores the lives and experiences of women in Renaissance Italy and offers new perspectives on female creativity, power, and agency. Learn about Sofonisba Anguissola, who served at the court of King Phillip II of Spain and painted more self-portraits than any other artist in Renaissance Italy. One of her self-portraits shows her holding a large shield-like object inscribed with her signature, declaring she painted it. See Renaissance interpretations of historical figures, like a bronze bust of Cleopatra showing the Egyptian queen as pensive and noble rather than seductive and dangerous—a work likely commissioned by Isabella d’Este, one of Renaissance Italy’s most influential patrons of the arts. Get to know the story of Gracia Nasi, a Jewish woman from a powerful family, through the portrait medal cast to celebrate her marriage. Women in Renaissance Italy faced challenges and barriers to equity, education, and influence. But they often found ways to work around or overcome the institutional structures of their time. The mix of sculpture, paintings, ceramics, textiles, fashion accessories, illustrated books, and prints in this exhibition reveals the material lives of Renaissance women and tells empowering and inspiring stories that have long gone untold.
Daily admission - Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA
https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/strong-women-in-renaissance-italy
Saturday, January 13
Chamber Music Concert
Students in early music chamber groups and other ensembles perform in their winter recital. This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome!
4:00pm - Powers Music School Concert Hall, 160 Lexington St. Belmont MA
Free.
https://powersmusic.org/events-category/student-performances/
Students in early music chamber groups and other ensembles perform in their winter recital. This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome!
4:00pm - Powers Music School Concert Hall, 160 Lexington St. Belmont MA
Free.
https://powersmusic.org/events-category/student-performances/
Saturday, January 20
Le Rossignol musical / The Musical Nightingale
Blue Heron (Scott Metcalfe, director)
Musical portraits of popes & nobles, lovers & spouses, patrons & friends, & theatrical personalities including a cocky cook & a desperately self-absorbed lover. Music by Ciconia, Du Fay, Busnoys, Isaac & others. Free pre-concert talk by Jodi Cranston (Boston University) at 2:15 pm.
3pm - First Church Congregational, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA
Tickets $10-$87
www.blueheron.org
Blue Heron (Scott Metcalfe, director)
Musical portraits of popes & nobles, lovers & spouses, patrons & friends, & theatrical personalities including a cocky cook & a desperately self-absorbed lover. Music by Ciconia, Du Fay, Busnoys, Isaac & others. Free pre-concert talk by Jodi Cranston (Boston University) at 2:15 pm.
3pm - First Church Congregational, 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA
Tickets $10-$87
www.blueheron.org
Friday, January 26
Ballads, Fancies, & Courtly Airs
El Dorado Ensemble: Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, James Perretta, Mai-Lan Broekman, Alice Mroszczyk, viols; Carrie Cheron, mezzo-soprano; Olav Chris Henriksen, Matthew Wright, lutes, bandora, cittern
Songs and instrumental music from 17th-century England by Tomkins, Simpson, Robinson, Weelkes, Lawes, and others.
8pm - First Church Congregational, 11 Garden St. Cambridge, MA
$20-25
www.duomaresienne.com
El Dorado Ensemble: Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, James Perretta, Mai-Lan Broekman, Alice Mroszczyk, viols; Carrie Cheron, mezzo-soprano; Olav Chris Henriksen, Matthew Wright, lutes, bandora, cittern
Songs and instrumental music from 17th-century England by Tomkins, Simpson, Robinson, Weelkes, Lawes, and others.
8pm - First Church Congregational, 11 Garden St. Cambridge, MA
$20-25
www.duomaresienne.com
Saturday, January 27
Go from my Window: Lute and Cittern in Elizabethan England
Hideki Yamaya, Renaissance lute and cittern.
1:30pm - Wadsworth Atheneum 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT
https://www.thewadsworth.org/
Hideki Yamaya, Renaissance lute and cittern.
1:30pm - Wadsworth Atheneum 600 Main Street, Hartford, CT
https://www.thewadsworth.org/
Sunday, January 28
Ballads, Fancies, & Courtly Airs
El Dorado Ensemble: Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, James Perretta, Mai-Lan Broekman, Alice Mroszczyk, viols; Carrie Cheron, mezzo-soprano; Olav Chris Henriksen, Matthew Wright, lutes, bandora, cittern
Songs and instrumental music from 17th-century England by Tomkins, Simpson, Robinson, Weelkes, Lawes, and others.
3pm - Somerville Museum, One Westwood Rd. Somerville, MA
$20-25
www.duomaresienne.com
El Dorado Ensemble: Carol Lewis, Karen Burciaga, James Perretta, Mai-Lan Broekman, Alice Mroszczyk, viols; Carrie Cheron, mezzo-soprano; Olav Chris Henriksen, Matthew Wright, lutes, bandora, cittern
Songs and instrumental music from 17th-century England by Tomkins, Simpson, Robinson, Weelkes, Lawes, and others.
3pm - Somerville Museum, One Westwood Rd. Somerville, MA
$20-25
www.duomaresienne.com
Go from my Window: Lute and Cittern in Elizabethan England
Hideki Yamaya, Renaissance lute and cittern.
4pm - Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale, MA
https://www.thewadsworth.org/
Hideki Yamaya, Renaissance lute and cittern.
4pm - Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale, MA
https://www.thewadsworth.org/