Baltimore Consort presents romantic music at USF
One of America’s premier early music groups, the Baltimore Consort, will perform Romances, Villanicos & Improvisations of Spain on Saturday, Feb. 11 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.
The concert will be in the university’s Moser Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are suggested. Tickets are $12; $8 for students and senior citizens. For tickets, call (815) 740-3404.
Stirring romances and lively villanicos created during Spain’s time as a land of three cultures will be performed. Works include those found in palace songbooks by the influential court composer Juan del Encina and in the books of the vihuelistas.
The New Yorker has noted that "few early music players have more fun making music" than Baltimore Consort, a virtuoso ensemble specializing in the popular music of the 16th to 18th centuries and traditional music rooted in earlier times. "They bring to this music researched by them with awesome thoroughness, a mix of jazz and joy, of improvisation and uncanny insight," according to The Scotsman. 
The Baltimore Consort has earned recognition as a Top Classical Crossover Artist (Billboard Magazine, 1993). The ensemble has toured widely in the United States and abroad as well as appeared on syndicated broadcasts for the BBC, CBC, Bavarian Radio, Performance Today and St. Paul Sunday.
The University of St. Francis is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet. The university serves more than 4,100 students nationwide. USF offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. Graduate programs are offered in health care, business and education. For more information about University of St. Francis programs, visit www.stfrancis.edu.