Houston Early Music

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Hispanic Heritage Series

BALTIMORE CONSORT

ˇCANCIONERO! Romances, Villancicos & Improvisations of Spain, circa 1500

8:00 pm, Sat., FEB. 23, 2008
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
1311 Holman (at Caroline)

Please see our web site for more information on our next concert, including program notes and selections

The Baltimore Consort returns to Houston on Saturday, Feburary 23, 2008, presented by Houston Early Music as the annual offering of the organization's Hispanic Heritage Series. Joined by the exciting young countertenor José Lemos, the popular ensemble will perform a program entitled ˇCANCIONERO! Romances, Villancicos & Improvisations of Spain, Circa 1500. The performance will be at 8:00 PM at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1311 Holman (at Caroline).

Founded in 1980 to perform the instrumental music of Shakespeare's time, the Baltimore Consort has explored early English, Scottish, and French popular music, focusing on the relationship between folk and art song and dance. Their interest in early music of English/Scottish heritage has also led them to delve into the rich trove of traditional music preserved in North America. recordings on the Dorian label have earned them recognition as Top Classical-Crossover Artist of the Year (Billboard), as well as rave reviews elsewhere. Besides touring in the U.S. and abroad, they often perform on such syndicated radio broadcasts as St. Paul Sunday, Performance Today, Harmonia and the CBC's OnStage. They have also enjoyed many teaching residencies at K-12 schools, as well as at the Madison Early Music Festival and other university engagements.

The winner of the 2003 International Baroque Vocal Competition in Chimay, Belgium, Jose Lemos has appeared in opera roles at Tanglewood (Oberon in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2004) and with Boston Baroque (Giulio Cesare). In 2005, he performed in Handel's Giulio Cesare with Cecilia Bartoli at the Zürich Opera under Marc Minkowski, and in 2006 was Arnalta in Monteverdi's Poppea in Buenos Aires. This year he has sung roles in Seattle (Poppea), at the Göttingen Handel Festival, the Boston Early Music Festival, and with Wm. Christie's Les Arts Florissants throughout Europe and at Lincoln Center.

Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors, $10 for students, under 15 free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling 713-432-1744.