I am back in Utrecht again, and to the winter it seems, considering the 40ºC average during past weekend in Toledo, where Concerto delle Dame performed our selection of music by female composers, Del convento a la corte. After the last experience, Toledo was extremely nice: we had to  deal with the wind in some moments, ok, but  it was still soft, we had full attendance in both concerts, the harpsichord (a Grimaldi 1697 by Rafael Marijuán) had a nice round sound and lots of projection (what  in outdoors concerts is a blessing), the people in the Museo de Santa Cruz were so kind… if we add that David could scape for a day from Madrid and that I met some friends I did not see for long time, then the weekend was perfect.

In two weeks, the next stop of the Antiqva 2009 tour will be Palma de Mallorca, although Concerto delle Dame won’t be there because of lack of availability of some of us. I, concretely, will enjoy the city of Pamplona where the first edition of an academy and fringe festival on early music will take place.

Past weekend Concerto delle Dame had two concerts in Cordoba, included in the cicle Antiqva 2009. Unfortunately, all of us found an insuperable obstable: it was raining… and they were outdoor concerts!

On Friday, when we arrived to the Plaza de los Abades for our sound check we found the members of Ensemble Quadrivium trying (pointlessly) to keep their stands in contact with the floor (well, the idea of placing the stage in the crossroad of two streets did not help). Some minutes later, we covered the harpsichord and had permission to go home.

On Saturday, after the second travel from Seville, we arrived to the place just for saving the harpsichord again inside the van, and taking refuge from the rain. After waiting in a cafe for large part of the afternoon, we received the “green light”… to play!

It did not rain anymore, that’s true, but we had to face a wet and slippery stage, a harpsichord tuned fast (while the tuner was in the other square, I tried to save some time with my instrument) that could not keep in tune till the end due to the humidity, and the experience of simply playing, no check, at all… Result?: we played “blindly” (it took around 20 minutes to change the lights so I could have some on my score) and “deafly” (at least I could only figure out what was going on on the stage following the bow of the gambist!, and they did not have a greater time)…

I am sure that these informal concerts help to “promote the cultural and turistic image of a city” introducing also new young groups, and attracting a new audience that maybe we would not find in the concert hall… We all know what is about, and try to adapt to the conditions. But maybe having a “B plan” would not be that difficult, and would help so much, both to the performers and audience.

Overall, a pity. General feeling of leaving empty-handed…

Next weekend, Concerto delle Dame will perform in Barcelona fringe, playing Del convento a la corte, a programme consisting of a selection of pieces for two sopranos and continuo from female composers of the 17th century.

2 May 2009 - 17.45

Fringe Barcelona ‘09 [map]

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Free admission

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3 May 2009 - 12.30

Fringe Barcelona ‘09 [map]

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Free admission

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3 May 2009 - 19.00

Fringe Barcelona ‘09 [map]

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Free admission

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If you want to read more, you can download our dossier.

And don’t miss the concerts!