Boston Early Music Festival Presents: La Donna Musicale & Rumbarroco

Nigra sum sed formosa: Morenas in Ibero-America

Making their BEMF début, La Donna Musicale and Rumbarroco perform songs and polyphonic settings that highlight Morenas—dark-skinned women—in the Ibero-American repertory. Director Laury Gutiérrez leads us on a musical voyage from the Iberian Renaissance to African-influenced folk traditions in contemporary South America. The program features settings of Nigra sum sed formosa from the Song of Songs and other selections from Spanish songbooks­—Cancioneros—with endearing depictions of Morenas, interspersed with dances. Selections include music by Manuel Machado, Francisco de Peñalosa, Juan Vásquez, and many others.