ARS POETICA
Caroline Nicolas, Artistic Director
2025–2026 Ars Poetica Concert Season Announcement
Welcome to Ars Poetica’s second season,
Jeux D’Amour!
In the French Renaissance, there was a concurrent rise of two divergent poetic tropes. We saw the popularization of lyrical texts focused on courtly love, which presented a masculine perspective on romance. At the same time, radically feminist poetry began to emerge. The results were often witty, crude, and surprisingly relevant to us today.
These contradictory views served as the inspiration for this season’s programming. Both concerts will be presentations of love stories. In poetry set to music, we have a rich array of repertoire that express men’s attitudes, but a woefully sparse selection of female opinion. In the spirit of equality, we will give voice to both parties’ sentiments by including dramatized readings of female writers from the time.
Amours et Souvenir, our program of Burgundian chanson, will juxtapose rarely performed works of Gilles Binchois, Hayne van Ghizeghem, Guillaume Dufay, and others, paired with the poetry of Christina de Pizan. Nuit et Jour, centered around airs de cour, will feature works of Pierre Guédron, Étienne Moulinié, amongst others, together with writings of Louise Labé.
We are so excited to bring these works to the stage. Perhaps we can find out together if all is truly fair in love and war! We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Caroline Nicolas, Artistic Director
About
Founded by Artistic Director Caroline Nicolas, Ars Poetica is an ensemble of acclaimed musicians who share a passion for bringing historical music to the stage. Dedicated to the power of storytelling through music, each program explores themes such as mythology, fairy tales, and love stories. AP’s concerts combine innovative repertoire choices, particularly of music from the high Renaissance to early Baroque, with sophisticated interpretations. Upcoming shows will include performances at the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Newport Classical, Gotham Early Music Scene, a recording project to be distributed by Avie Records, and a collaboration with Taiwan’s The Gleam Ensemble.
Ars Poetica’s name is inspired by the view that historical performance is much akin to poetry. In both forms of expression, the smallest of gestures carry significant depth and meaning. As an ensemble, Ars Poetica aims to convey this beauty to the stage.
Mission Statement
Ars Poetica’s mission is to present world-class concerts that celebrate the soulful intimacy of historical instruments and vocal practices. We bring this aspiration to life through performances of music from the Renaissance to early Baroque periods. By bringing lesser known masterworks to the stage, we seek to benefit the public by providing easy access to a wide range of music to appreciate.
Values
Ars Poetica adheres to its core values of:
Artistic integrity
Creativity
Commitment to inclusiveness
Respect
Collaboration
Accessibility