Elisabeth Belgrano

Passionate Women’s Voices on Stage and an Interpretation of the 17th Century Lamenti and Scene di Pazzie

This is an interdisciplinary study combining practice-based research in the performance of 17th century vocal laments and mad scenes with the science and history of emotions, gender studies, cultural studies and phenomenological hermeneutics.
Through a process of bibliographical archival research, phenomenological methods and music dramatic performances, my aim is to better understand the minds and emotions of women performers during the 17th century. This approach will help me to explore new possibilities in the art of performing vocal music from the Baroque era.

The questions I intend to address are the following:
* How did women perform feelings, affects and passions during the 17th century?
* What impact did society, culture, tradition, aesthetics, language and personal experience have on their expressivity and creativity on stage?
* What tools, methods and techniques did they apply in their performances?
* How can singers today be inspired by 17th century female performers?
* Can a better understanding of 17th century affects and passions create a new depth in the art of performing ‘from within’?
*Can passions and emotions be the connecting link between authenticity and timelessness?

For further information, see Elisabeth Belgrano’s web site: http://www.elibelgrano.org
or contact: Elisabeth.Belgrano@hsm.gu.se; elibelgrano@mac.com

Part of this project is a collaboration with the project ‘The Passion for the Real’ (http://www.konst.gu.se/passionen/index.html)
at the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts at the University of Gothenburg.