The play…

A collaborative project between Wise Child Theatre and Fieri Consort to produce a play with music about the 17th-century Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi. Featuring music recorded on our third album Barbara Strozzi: Virtuosa of Venice, this project puts Strozzi’s music into context - the audience is transported to Venice, where Barbara is hosting some of the finest and most creative minds of the city. Strozzi was one of the most published composers of her time and led a fascinating life.

Premiered at Brighton Early Music Festival November 2019, this performance involves 4 singers, 3 instrumentalists and 5 actors. Written and researched by Henry Bauckham and Hannah Ely, featuring actors Susanna Austin, Tama Phethean, Ruby Richardson, Ed Thorpe and Simon Weir.

The concert…

An evening of music and historical readings from one of Barbara Strozzi’s salon evenings in Venice 1637, this non-staged version is also available as a soiree/concert performance.

Involving only singers and instrumentalists, Fieri puts the audience into one of Strozzi’s father’s famous salon evenings. Guests included some of the most liberal intellectuals of the time; artists, writers, composers and thinkers.

Music by Strozzi, Montverdi, Pallavicino, Caccini, Ferrari and Fontei.