Seraphic Fire’s Fourth Enlightenment Festival Highlights 18th-Century Music and Exquisite Voices

For the fourth year running, Seraphic Fire presents its annual Enlightenment Festival, two weeks of concert programs from February 15-25, 2024 at multiple venues across South Florida. This year’s festival focuses on music of the 18th century, which marks the transition between Baroque and Classical eras. True to its mission to present underperformed and historically significant works, Seraphic Fire will perform lesser-known gems like Haydn’s art song “Lines from the Battle of the Nile” and Domenico Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater a 10.

Patrick Dupre Quigley, who will conduct the program, says, “We’re performing music, some of which has never been heard live in Miami. It is unique to us and really gives our audience a sense of the vast breadth of musical history. And the voices we have cast in this concert put an exclamation point on its singularity.”

Those voices include soprano Nola Richardson, who will step out for a solo aria in the program A Visit With Haydn. Richardson, whose voice has been described as “astonishing” and “crystalline” (Washington Post) has the distinction of winning First Prize in all three major American competitions focused on the music of J.S. Bach. One will also find Richardson leading a free Pre-Concert Conversation for the program A Scarlatti Family Affair.

A chamber orchestra and extra voices from Seraphic Fire’s Ensemble Artist Program with UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music will join the professional vocal ensemble for the program A Visit With Haydn, bringing pomp and circumstance to a program of works by one of the most idiomatic composers of the Classical era.

Tickets for A Scarlatti Family Affair (February 15-18) and A Visit With Haydn (February 22-25) are on sale now at SeraphicFire.org and by phone at 305.285.9060.

FESTIVAL PROGRAM WEEK 1: A Scarlatti Family Affair

Thu, Feb 15, 7:30 pm | Miami | St. Sophia Greek Orthodox

Fri, Feb 16, 7:30 pm | Coral Gables |St. Philip's Episcopal

Sat, Feb 17, 7:30 pm | Ft. Lauderdale | All Saints Episcopal

Sun, Feb 18, 4:00 pm | Miami Beach | All Souls Episcopal

Father and son Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti were influential in the musical life of Naples, Italy in the Baroque period. Most commonly recalled for his keyboard sonatas learned by piano students everywhere, Domenico’s calm and reflective Stabat Mater will be performed by vocal ensemble, organ, and cello. The elder Scarlatti, Alessandro, was known for his vocal works, and excerpts from his Missa Clementina will demonstrate his masterful part writing. Captivating and meditative, these intricate Baroque vocal works provide a pause from modern life.

Program:

Stabat Mater a 10 - Domenico Scarlatti

Te Deum - Domenico Scarlatti

Selections from Missa Clementina - Alessandro Scarlatti

FESTIVAL PROGRAM WEEK 2: A Visit with Haydn

Thu, Feb 22, 7:00 pm | Naples | Vanderbilt Presbyterian

Fri, Feb 23, 8:00 pm | Coral Gables |Church of the Little Flower

Sat, Feb 24, 7:30 pm | Ft. Lauderdale | All Saints Episcopal

Sun, Feb 25, 4:00 pm | Boca Raton | St. Gregory’s Episcopal

A special visit to the Esterházy palace by war hero Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, inspired this concert of works by Haydn. Amateur soprano and scandalous socialite Lady Hamilton struck up a friendship with Haydn and they performed together multiple times during her stay at Esterházy. The palace’s resident composer, Haydn provided entertainment for the diplomatic visit with the premier of the Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese and two works dedicated to Lord Nelson. Step back in time to relive the political and social intrigue of Haydn’s time in a concert for chorus and chamber orchestra.