Spring concert features Grammy-nominated lutenist and celebrated soprano in music of Elizabethan England

Indianapolis Early Music celebrates Spring, the lustiest of seasons, with an unbridled romp through English music of the Elizabethan period. Works of Thomas Morley, Thomas Campion, Matthew Holmes, John Dowland, and Giovanni Coprario (a.k.a. John Cooper) are among the highlights of the opening program of IEM's 55th festival season. In the spirit of springtime abundance, and to accommodate social-distancing requirements, the entire program will be presented twice. Performances start at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Sunday, May 9th at the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street. The second concert will also be streamed live.

The acclaimed instrumentalists ushering in the new IEM season include Grammy-nominated Ronn McFarlane (lute), Grammy-winning William Simms (bandora), IEM Artistic Director Mark Cudek (cittern), and Alchymy Viols. Soprano Alexandra Olsavsky, who has previously appeared in the festival with the Artemisia Vocal Ensemble, interprets a variety of madrigal texts laced with double entendre. Morley's balletto "Now Is the Month of Maying," from which the program takes its name, will be performed in two versions: one in the composer's arrangement for broken consort (mixed ensemble), and another for solo voice and instruments.

Lutenist Ronn McFarlane, a founding member of the Baltimore Consort, has also performed as a guest artist with Apollo's Fire, the Folger Consort, the Portland Baroque Orchestra, and many more ensembles. William Simms, who has also played with Apollo's Fire and the Baltimore Consort, is an accomplished soloist on classical guitar, lute, and theorbo. Alexandra Olsavsky's other collaborations, aside from those with Artemisia, have included concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus, Schola Antiqua, and the Rolling Stones.

Admission to either live performance or the live stream is $15. Due to the pandemic, only 70 patrons will be allowed to attend each live performance in the Basile Auditorium of the Indiana History Center. The tickets for either live performance can be ordered from the IEM office at 8134 River Bay Drive East, Indianapolis, IN 46240, or over the phone at 317-537-2458. Tickets for the live stream at 5:00 p.m. are available only through Brown Paper Tickets.

Indianapolis Early Music (IEM) is America's oldest continuous presenter of Early Music. Originally known by its corporate name of Festival Music Society, it was established in 1966 as a not-for-profit organization to enrich, educate, and entertain audiences with the music of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and early classic eras. IEM is chiefly known for its annual summer Early Music Festival, a series of six concerts over four weeks. It presented its first festival in 1967. The Festival presents national and international performers, performing on instruments of the period.