Alienor’s Trobadors
August 23
Sirventès: Power Struggles in the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart through their Troubadours
Miriam Trevisan, Soprano
Jacob Lawrence, Tenor
Aliénor Wolteche, Viele
Claire Piganiol, Romanesque Harp
Baptiste Romain, Viele, Rebec, Bagpipes & Direction
In the 12th century, Western Europe was a landscape of profound political upheaval and dynastic shifts, driven by the ambitions of kings, queens, and prelates. At the center of this world stood Eleanor (Aliénor), Duchess of Aquitaine—one of the most influential figures of the Middle Ages, successively Queen of France and Queen of England.
Far from being mere observers, the Troubadours were active participants in the political discourse of the Plantagenet court. They utilized the Sirventès—a sophisticated and highly crafted poetic form—to deliver moral critiques, political commentary, and sharp satire. This program explores the complex relationship between art and power, through the refined rhymes and melodies that echoed the rebellions and intrigues of Eleanor and her son, Richard the Lionheart.
Featuring works that illustrate the art of the Troubadours as a refined tool of social and political expression.