“Ingeniously programmed and impeccably delivered, with that undefinable excitement that comes from a group of musicians working absolutely as one.” – Gramophone Pacific
The Gesualdo Six will perform at St. Matthew’s Music Guild.
St. Matthew’s Music Guild will present a special concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, February 6. Pacific Palisades will be one of the stops on the tenth tour of the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six.
Their musical program “Queen of Hearts,” present a selection of Motets and Chansons from the French Court, focusing on European Queens: Anne of Brittany, Margaret of Austria, Anne Boleyn and Mary Tudor.
The program traces how composers of the sixteenth century used music to reflect power, devotion, intrigue, and personal identity. Short contemporary works are interwoven throughout the program, creating a dialogue between Renaissance music and modern perspectives.
The music itself spans motets—sacred vocal works written for worship or contemplation—and chansons, which are secular songs often centered on poetry, courtly life, and human emotion.
Performed by six unaccompanied singers, this style of vocal consort music emphasizes clarity of text, blend of voices, expressive nuance, and “word painting,” – the representation of the text in sometimes extravagant musical gestures and vocal effects.
The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble founded in 2014 by conductor and scholar Owain Park. Comprising six of the United Kingdom’s finest consort singers, the group is widely praised for its precision, expressive depth, and innovative programming.
The ensemble takes its name from the Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo, whose emotionally intense music reflects the dramatic expressive possibilities of unaccompanied vocal writing.
Critics have consistently highlighted the group’s ability to unite historical insight with compelling musical storytelling.
A free pre-concert talk, “Liner Notes,” will take place at 7:10 p.m. with host Tom Neenan. “Liner Notes” is free and open to all ticket holders.
Tickets are $45 general admission. Students with ID attend for just $10 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at MusicGuildOnline.org. This performance marks the first subscription concert presented by St. Matthew’s Music Guild in St. Matthew’s Church since the Palisades fires of January 2025.