Handel's Salon with The Portrait Players
The New Lyre - Music by 17th century women in Italy
Join The Portrait Players to celebrate the creativity and ingenuity of 17th century women in Italy who made their careers as composers and performers. Barbara Strozzi, the most published composer of her time, Francesca Caccini composer of the oldest known opera by a woman and Isabella Leonarda a nun writing prolifically both in vocal and instrumental genres. Alongside her historical colleagues, The Portrait Players are delighted to feature contemporary composer Clare Elton in premiering songs set to the sonnets of 16th century poet Louise Labe. The premiere is the culmination of the Louise Labe Song Project which The Portrait Players launched in 2024.
The Portrait Players
Described in its debut concert as ‘beguiling’, The Portrait Players are an all-female ensemble presenting ‘wonderfully woven’ programmes inspired by people and their experiences in history. Founded in January 2023, the ensemble has quickly established a busy concert schedule across the UK.
In Autumn 2023 the group made its debut at St Martin in the Fields in a recital hosted by City Music Foundation. Further concerts include performances at Buxton International Festival, Stoller Hall (Manchester), St.George’s (Bristol), Handel Hendrix House, Brighton Early Music Festival, Surrey Hills International Music Festival, Amersham Festival, Northumbria University, Barts’ Great Hall in the City of London and University College Oxford, as well as collaborations with Opera Prelude in London and Henley.
In 2024, the group launched the Louise Labé song project, expanding itsprogramme‘Les Femmes Illustres -The Female Genius’ with a contemporary commissioned song cycle by composer Clare Elton which will be premiered song by song in 2025/26.
The trio are recent Stoller Hall Emerging Artists, Making Music/Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists and feature on the Live Music Now Directory. Previously, The Portrait Players took part in the Brighton Early Music Festival Live! scheme for new ensembles 2023/24 and have participated in the BBC Radio 3/NCEM/RCM New Generation Baroque Ensemble Development Day.
In the 25/26 season the ensemble is looking forward to premiering the second song in the Louise Labé song project, performing as part of the London Handel Festival and a recital in Clare College with Dame Emma Kirkby.
