Candlelight concert

Clémence Niclas – voice and recorders
Marie-Domitille Murez – gothic harp
Louise Bouedo-Mallet – bowed fiddle
Clément Stagnol – medieval lute

Sublime woman, mortal flower

Often awarded, the young Apotropaïk ensemble brings a fresh perspective to the medieval repertoire. In Bella Donna, they sing of the idealized and coveted woman, sometimes poisonous and deadly like belladonna, a poison well known to witches… The Bella Donna, an idealized and desired woman, is celebrated in the tradition of courtly love. She is also the sublime, poisonous, and deadly flower. A tempting fruit, with a sweetish taste but a violent poison, belladonna is well known to witches for the preparation of their hallucinogenic ointments. What better metaphor to illustrate the ambiguity of the feminine figure in the medieval imagination?

With a diverse range of instruments, the Apotropaïk ensemble seeks to renew the approach to medieval repertoires with a youthful and vibrant outlook. Its repertoire spans from the 12th to the 15th century, from the first troubadour songs to the dawn of the Renaissance. Their approach combines research and understanding of historical sources with a focus on creativity and emotion. Through their arrangements, the ensemble aims to highlight each instrument, subtly blending all the timbres at their disposal, constantly renewing the listener’s experience with strong and fascinating personalities.