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Hear Italian ‘Greatest Hits’ for 1200-1600 at Madison Early Music Festival in July

Madison Early Music Festival presents Italia Mia!–a musical journey to Italy, covering the years 1300 to 1600—during the week of July 12–19, with public concerts and lectures on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus or at nearby venues.

The Early Music Festival is a UW-Madison Continuing Studies program, presented in partnership with UW-Madison’s School of Music.  The festival’s program director is Prof. Chelcy Bowles, Continuing Studies.

The public seven-concert series features sacred and secular music performed by four guest ensembles:

The Toronto Consort, Saturday, July 12, Luther Memorial Church; LIBER, Sunday, July 13, Luther Memorial Church; Ex Umbris, Tuesday, July 15, Music Hall, and Trefoil, Friday, July 18, Music Hall.

The series also includes:

  • the second annual Handel Aria Competition, Thursday, July 17 in Music Hall;
  • a MEMF Participant Concert, Friday, July 18, Morphy Recital Hall, Humanities Building,
  • and the final All-Festival Concert, Saturday, July 19, Luther Memorial Church.

Luther Memorial Church is located at 1021 University Ave. Music Hall is on lower Bascom Hill at 455 N. Park St. Mosse Humanities Building is at 455 N. Park St. or at the corner of Park Street and University Avenue.

The free MEMF Participant Concert begins at 1 p.m. Other concerts start at 7:30 p.m., with pre-concert lectures at 6:30 p.m. Concert tickets are sold at the door or in advance (508-265-2787): $20 for individual concerts or $75 for a pass for all concerts, except the Handel Aria Competition ($10/door). Credit cards cannot be accepted, but cash and checks are welcome.

Other events include: a performance by Piffaro, The Renaissance Band, at an Arts Council of Edgerton Benefit Concert on Friday, July 11, 7:30 p.m. at Wartmann Prairie, 7356 Caledonia Rd., Edgerton (tickets are $10.) and a Renaissance dance party with instruction, live music, and refreshments on Monday, July 14, at Memorial Union at 7 p.m. ($10 cash/door).

For more information about the ensembles, the music, the lectures, and other special events, visit the festival website.