“Christall Floods” – When tears become music

At the heart of the programme lies the close connection between human emotion and musical expression: what cannot be put into words finds its expression in music. Tears – at times hot and urgent, at times quiet and clear – take on a sound of their own. Baroque composers translated this emotional depth into striking musical images: as flowing lines, as plaintive motifs, as so-called ‘sighing figures’. 

A particular focus is placed on the English composer John Dowland, whose works are still regarded today as the epitome of musical melancholy. To mark the 400th anniversary of his death, the programme places his compositions within a broader European context spanning England, France, Italy and Germany. 

The Ensemble Due sopra il Basso performs this music in a unique ensemble: two voices and lute. This reduced form creates an immediate, intense soundscape that allows the emotional content of the works to be experienced directly. The concert is complemented by subtle scenic elements that deepen the impact of the music.  Since its foundation in 2016, the ensemble has been known for its lively yet historically informed performances of early music.