Ensemble Irini

Lila Hajosi, narrator, rebec, percussion, shruti, conductor
Faustine Aziyadé, narrator, dancer
Sarah Lefeuvre, vocals, flutes, ney

Three artists from the Ensemble Irini have joined forces to present a concert-performance based on Christine de Pisan’s *La Cité des Dames* (The City of Ladies), considered to be the first feminist philosophical work in the Western world, published in 1405!

In it, Christine de Pizan constructs an ideal city whose building blocks are illustrious women; she critiques the misogyny of her time and argues that women should be able to play an active role in the workings of society.

This intimate concert is designed to allow the audience to discover this major work through music and movement. The recited excerpts are accompanied 

by medieval dance music (the Tristan/Manfredina cycle, estampies) played on the rebec, ney, flutes and percussion, performed by Faustine Aziyadé, blending theatre and contemporary dance. You will hear songs from *Toile*, the quintessential women’s repertoire, pieces dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and Yseult’s song defying God to separate her from Tristan.

These figures from the Middle Ages are deeply connected to their modern counterparts. Louise Michel, for instance, was nicknamed the ‘Red Virgin’, whilst Monique Wittig, with her *Guérillères*, follows in the footsteps of Christine de Pisan.

Improvisation, intimacy, sharing and interaction are the principles that underpin this concert/performance.

Running time: 1 hour