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“Orpheus symbolizes the great individual voice, and much of the music we will do celebrates the virtuosos singer,” said soprano Sally Sanford of Ensemble Chanterelle. “We are really excited about exploring the Greek origins of concepts that fascinated the Renaissance humanists and inspired so many early Baroque composers.” The award-winning Ensemble Chanterelle specializes in highly dramatic 17th century music for voice and continuo instruments and on February 21st, will feature works by Monteverdi from the opera L’Orfeo; Nicholas Lanier’s dramatic lament of Hero, Nor com’st thou yet, recounting the story of Hero and Leander; and songs by Henry Purcell. Performing with Ms. Sanford (soprano) are Catherine Liddell Dertouzos (lute and theorbo) and Brent Wissick (cello and viola de gamba).

Actor and director William Lacey will weave selections of myths, the Orphic hymns and poems by Sappho, into the evening’s program. Among many accomplishments, Mr. Lacey was the director of Boston University’s School of Theater for many years, and also directed and performed in The Greek Institute’s recent world premiere production of Hypsipyle by Euripides.

“The dramatic style of the ancient Greek plays and the power of the individual voice to affect us deeply, greatly attracted the theorists and musicians of the Florentine Camerata, and later composers. The re-emergence of the Greek spirit transformed their music,” said Maria Anagnostopoulos, Associate Director of The Greek Institute. “The Heirs of Orpheus promises to touch and delight us.”

Please call (617) 547-4770 for tickets and information about The Heirs of Orpheus, as well as The Greek Institute and Ensemble Chanterelle. The Greek Institute is located at 1038 Massachusetts Avenue at Harvard Square, Cambridge. The Longy School is at One Follen Street, a short walk from Harvard Square and is accessible by public transportation.