Isacco Columbo is a wonderful musician that I met back in Legnano, Italy when The Rose Ensemble was invited to participate in La Fabbrica del Canto in 2008. We became fast friends and invited him to become a part of our Il Poverello: The Life & Legacy of St. Francis of Assisi. This is his [...]
I’m excited to bring you this news! We’ve been in rehearsals for this show, and there are some numbers that will make you tap your toes, whistle, and even sing along. It’s a great way to explore this part of our Nation’s history and we can’t wait to share it with you. The Rose Ensemble’s [...]
The Rose Ensemble rehearsals are starting back up today – it’s been 3 weeks and I miss my collegues. I’m also looking forward to a revival of the Early American show that we will be performing in Austin, MN this Tuesday at the Paramount Theater. The Paramount is one of those theaters that was saved [...]
The Rose Ensemble is launching its 15th anniversary season this Saturday evening, September 11th, with a free concert and wine reception. Enjoy a preview of what’s to come and mingle with the musicians after the show over a glass of wine at the reception. Featured in MetroMag’s 26 Excellent Cultural Adventures, “no group performs the [...]
What a treat is in store for the women of The Rose Ensemble. This week we will be working with one of the most revered men of medieval performance practice, Benjamin Bagby and he guides us, instructs us and coaches us on medieval repertoire of Spain and Hildegaard Von Bingin in preparation for our upcoming concerts in the [...]
ome to one of our four concerts this weekend to hear The Rose Ensemble and London’s Voces8 collaborating with some of the great music written for the Sistine Chapel.
St. Paul, Minn. — White sauce vs. tomato sauce.
Meat vs. fish.
Polenta vs. pasta.
Northern and southern Italy still retain distinct differences in cuisine and culture today.
The difference between the music of the two regions was even more pronounced four hundred years ago.
Let’s face it: History lessons aren’t always fun. Too often, an artistic event that strives toward historical accuracy leaves you feeling educated but not really entertained. Shoring up some cracks in your knowledge base can be worthwhile but seldom extremely enjoyable. However, one of those infrequent occurrences happened Sunday afternoon when St. Paul-based early-music group [...]
Thank you for supporting The Rose Ensemble! It’s not every day that an opportunity to benefit non-profits in Minnesota arises, but tomorrow is our opportunity. Give to the Max Day is from 8:00 a.m. on November 17, 2009 until 8:00 a.m. on November 18, 2009. Every donation made during Give to the Max Day will receive [...]
The Greater Minnesota Rose Ensemble Tour will soon be upon us and I could use your help to make this tour a success. Since these concerts are self-produced, we do not have the luxury of a presenter to market and publicize these concerts on our behalf. If you have family members, friends, or other contacts [...]
In an era accustomed to sensory overload, when stage productions are hard put to compete with the technological wizardry available to film makers, it’s refreshing to spend a couple of hours in a vivid world created simply through the interaction of words and music.
A wonderful weekend of concerts celebrating the release of our new CD “Il Poverello: Medieval & Renaissance Music on the life of St. Francis of Assisi”
Francis was born Giovanni Francesco Bernardone and gave up a life of privilege for the materially impoverished life of a monk. He later founded an order of friars known as the Franciscans.
The patron saint of animals, St. Francis is also the patron of Italy. But his influence was felt well beyond the borders of Assisi and Italy. At Notre Dame in Paris, a group of educated (and perhaps inebriated) monks wrote poetic lines about his life that have a lusty musical setting.
We are thrilled to have performing with us our friends from Legnano, Italy, Isacco Columbo and Stefano Burrati. Isacco came to the US for the first time during our recording session this past August and is just enamored with America. He plays a myriad of instruments, but the most impressive to me is the fife & tabor. It’s kind of like rubbing your head and your belly at the same time in different directions. Check out the video I shot from the first time we met 2 years ago.
I’m back home. It’s was kind of a bittersweet tour for me this time. I loved the Festival, seeing old friends and meeting new ones, singing with new Rosies and making some really fantastic music. The churches were glorious and Piggy gave everyone a great smile. Jordan from The Rose Ensemble has written a couple of [...]
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