Heaven and Earth go back to back as two Marian Anthems frame a trio of tortured queens. Arias of Stradella’s conflicted Ester, Monteverdi’s dejected Ottavia, and Handel’s scheming Agrippina trace an arc from doubt to misery to bloodthirsty delusion, as two prayers to the Queen of Heaven flip from calm to turbulence on either side. 

Opening with a courtly homage and concluding with an impassioned plea, the throne is more prison than privilege in this concert devoted to monarchs on the verge.

Camerata San Luca:

Jessica Gould, soprano

Gonzalo Ruiz. oboe

Alexandra Calabro & Claire Smith, violins

Christopher Morrongiello, baroque guitar & lute

Jason Priset, theorbo

Adam Young, viola da gamba

Robert Warner, harpsichord