Bedlam, Back and Beyond

reconstruction’s program “Bedlam, Back and Beyond” is an exciting journey based on the sensual love songs and infamous mad songs of Baroque composers such as Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi. “Tight as a skilled jazz group” (San Francisco Classical Voice), the five-woman ensemble reconstruction — comprised of three sopranos, harpsichord, Baroque cello and Baroque guitars — performs a mixture of English, Italian and Spanish music (and a few surprises for good measure). The program’s works convey intense longing, wild jealousy and desperation — feelings of all-consuming passion that could drive a person to madness, to “Bedlam,” and beyond.

"Bedlam" refers to Bethlem Royal Hospital, the London insane asylum which fueled a 17th and 18th century voyeuristic fascination with madness--visitors to the asylum paid a penny to tour the facility. Composers of the time created mad songs, which express delusions born of unhappy love.

Hailed for “rigorous musicianship” (The Oregonian), the women of reconstruction “dazzle their audience with musical intelligence and wit” (San Francisco Classical Voice) in this “amusing and appealing” (Sacramento Bee) program “custom designed for the adventurous concertgoer” (TimeOut NY).