Ensemble Floridante

Maria Listra (soprano)
Villu Vihermäe (viola da gamba)
Saale Fischer (harpsichord)
Kristo Käo (theorbo)

In the summer of 2023, when Floridante was touring in Estonia with soprano Maria Listra, we were approached by Ms Tiiu Levald, a distinguished Estonian first-generation Early Music soprano, long-time voice teacher and renowned vocal coach. Ms Levald, touched by the late-night concert in Muhu Church that just had come to and end, she expressed her wish to hand down her collection of early music sheet music to Maria and Floridante, together with a wish to bring some of the favourite songs of the first generation of Estonian early musicians back to the concert hall.

In this programme, Floridante has chosen to focus on music from 16th-17th century England, including stage music by Henry Purcell and lute songs by John Dowland, Peter Phillips and Thomas Morley. Floridante therefore features lutenist Kristo Käo, one of the founding members of the ensemble, on the keyboard.