March 4, 2003
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu

Soprano Ellen Hargis and lutenist Paul O’Dette perform The Power of Love at The Peppers in Montecito

Summary Facts:

• Ellen Hargis, soprano & Paul O’Dette, lute
• The Power of Love—16th and 17th century love songs from Italy, France and England
• A Chamber Music in Historic Sites® concert
• Ticket includes a garden reception
• Sunday, April 6
• 3 & 5 pm / Julia Morgan Ballroom, The Peppers, Montecito
• Meet-the-artists discussion and architecture chat for both shows
• General: $50, UCSB students: $25 (limited availability)
• Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535

Ellen Hargis, lead soprano from The King’s Noyse, and Paul O’Dette, one of the world’s best lutenists, combine for a dazzling program of love songs and instrumental music on Sunday, April 6 at 3 and 5 pm in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of The Peppers, Montecito. Hargis and O’Dette enchant audiences with some of the most graceful music ever to light up a stage. The lute songs of the 16th and 17th centuries are more than duets—they are musical conversation at its most sophisticated, full of charm, intellect and passion. The Boston Globe called Hargis “almost eerily good, and a delight.” The Washington Post acclaimed Paul O’Dette as “a dynamite showman, a careful technician and consummate musician.” Hargis & O’Dette’s delightful program The Power of Love presents 16th and 17th century songs that look at love in all its guises. The Cleveland Plain Dealer enthuses, “When these two artists make music together, they create magic.” A garden reception at The Peppers is included in the ticket price.

Soprano Ellen Hargis, hailed “a national musical treasure” by Continuo, brings her expressive voice to concerts throughout the world, performing with renowned ensembles and conductors in the Early Music field. She appears regularly with The King’s Noyse, The Newberry Consort, and Andrew Lawrence-King and The Harp Consort. She has performed with groups such as The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and Vox Feminae.

Ellen Hargis’s growing discography embraces repertoire from medieval to contemporary music. Recent releases include Dowland’s Seaven Teares with Paul O’Dette and The King’s Noyse and Missa Mexicana with The Harp Consort. Of her other recordings, A Candle in the Dark with The Newberry Consort was named “Choc du Monde” in Le Monde de la Musique. She is featured on a dozen additional Harmonia Mundi recordings including a critically acclaimed solo recital disc of music by Jacopo Peri with Paul O’Dette and Andrew Lawrence-King. Her recording of Tristan et Iseult with The Boston Camerata was winner of the Grand Prix du Disque in 1989. Hargis is on the vocal faculty of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Paul O’Dette has been called “the clearest case of genius ever to touch his instrument” (Toronto Globe and Mail). His performances at the major international early music festivals have often been singled out as the highlight of those events. Though best known for his recitals and recordings of virtuoso solo lute music, Paul O’Dette maintains an active international career as an ensemble musician as well, performing with artists such as Gustav Leonhardt, Jordi Savall and Tragicomedia. He is co-director of The Musicians of Swanne Alley, an Elizabethan consort highly-acclaimed for its performances.

Paul O’Dette has made more than 100 recordings, several of which have been nominated for Gramophone’s “Record of the Year” Award. Recent releases include The Complete Lute Music of John Dowland, which has been awarded the prestigious Diapason D’or du l’annee, Dolcissima et Amorosa—Early Renaissance Italian Lute Music, which received a “Choc du Monde de la Musique,” The Echoing Air—Songs of Henry Purcell with Sylvia McNair, which won a Grammy, Le Jardin des Melodies and The Queen’s Delight with The King’s Noyse and the best-selling Luz y Norte with The Harp Consort.

A Meet-the-Artists Discussion will be held between the two shows for ticket holders only. As part of their residency, Paul O’Dette will hold a Guitar Master Class with UCSB students on Sunday, April 6 at 10 am at Geiringer Hall, UCSB Department of Music (a co-sponsor of the event). The class is free and open to public observation.

This concert is the second of three events in UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2002-2003 performing arts season held in local buildings of architectural significance where audiences can experience music in unique and intimate environments. The series concludes with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet performing in the SB County Courthouse Mural Room on May 10.

In 1915 Ferdinand and Gertrude Bain bought the site of the Hargis & O’Dette concerts and enlarged the original 1887 farmhouse into a sixteen room structure they named The Peppers. The next year the Bains contracted Julia Morgan, the architect of Hearst Castle, to design the large Georgian style music room. A young Martha Graham gave her first public dance performance in the room in 1917. This ballroom, with its oak flooring, mahogany surrounds and redwood heartwood paneling, is sure to be an inspiring setting for dazzling chamber music.

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents its historic sites series by agreement with Chamber Music in Historic Sites®—a nationally licensed series, Dr. MaryAnn Bonino, president and founder. Thanks to the Pearl Chase Society for its support and to Santa Barbara Magazine for sponsoring this concert. This residency is funded in part by an organizational development grant from the City of Santa Barbara. Tickets are $50 for the general public and $25, but in limited availability, for UCSB students. Patrons for these concerts must park at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 1300 E. Valley Road, Montecito. Shuttle bus service will be provided.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.