Science Fiction:
The New Music of the Spheres

November 22 & 23, 2025

Commencing with a love-sick cry to the stars in Monteverdi’s madrigal Sfogava con stelle, this collaboration between new music group Ensemble Ipse and early music group Repast Baroque explores themes of novelty and innovation from the 16th-century philosophy of the Music of the Spheres to Science Fiction and technology of our modern age. Performed on modern and historical instruments, this program elicits colorful timbral possibilities resulting from various combinations of tunings and temperaments. World premieres by composers Judith Berkson, Molly Herron, Max Giteck Duykers, Joseph Di Ponio, and Stephanie Griffin are featured alongside works by Monteverdi and Castello.

Repast Baroque
Natalie Rose Kress, baroque violin
Sarah Stone, viola da gamba
Stephanie Corwin, baroque bassoon
Gabe Shuford, harpsichord

Ensemble Ipse
Margaret Lancaster, flutes
Christa Van Alstine, clarinets
Alex Shiozaki, violin
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Caleb van der Swaagh, cello
Geoffrey Burleson, piano
Colleen Bernstein, percussion
Matt Ward, conductor