Mission and Goals
La Donna Musicale is a non-profit research, education, and performance organization devoted exclusively to the discovery, preservation, and promotion of sacred and secular music by women composers. The internationally acclaimed ensemble uses period instruments and historically-informed performance to showcase the work of women composers from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, as well as contemporary works. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, La Donna Musicale performs throughout the U.S. and internationally.
La Donna Musicale brings together world-renowned musicians and scholars to unearth, perform, and record music that, in many instances, has never been performed or recorded previously. Concerts have featured modern world premieres of works by Antonia Bembo, Anna Bon, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Julie Pinel, and Caterina Assandra, among others. Under the leadership of founding director Laury Gutiérrez, the ensemble translates the concept of historical performance into live and recorded music. Collaborating scholars, and experts in their field, include Claire Fontijn, Thierry Favier, Catherine E. Gordon-Seifert, David Lasocki, and Rebecca Messbarger.
Goals
- Inform people about the accomplishments of women in a variety of musical capacities.
- Research and retrieve unpublished music from archives and libraries
- Present this music in a historically informed manner, using instruments that reflect the techniques from the era in which the music was composed
- Make the general public aware of the breadth and creativity found in the work of female composers.
- Offer access to concerts and music presentations to people of all races, ages, and backgrounds.
- Provide role models of female composers and performers.
- Provide remunerated performance opportunities for musicians.
- Stimulate discussion and research on the above topics through pre-concert.
- Lectures, workshops, and outreach programs.
- Encourage contemporary women composers to write music for period instruments (viola da gamba, harpsichord, baroque violin, flute, etc.)
- Stimulate discussion and research on the above topics through pre-concert lectures, workshops, and outreach programs.