February 3, 2014

Take a trip back to 16th century England for an evening of Renaissance music, stories, jests and cuisine at the Performing Arts Department’s 24th Annual Madrigal Dinner on Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Court of Drexel’s Main Building (32nd & Chestnut Streets). The Madrigal Dinner features the Drexel Chamber Singers performing music from England’s Elizabethan period in Renaissance costume under the direction of Dr. Stephen Powell. Storytellers and jesters will entertain guests while instrumentalists perform brass fanfares and harpsichord music.

The Madrigal Dinner menu provides a host of appetizing dishes from the 16th century. Attendees will begin their feast with Potage Jacqueline, a creamy sweet potato and ginger soup, before moving on to their choice of either roast capon or poached salmon, accompanied by roasted potatoes, peas and roasted turnips, with artisan bread. For dessert, diners will be served a delicious upside down warm apple tart. A vegetarian meal is available upon request. Following the feast, the Chamber Singers will delight those in attendance with the sounds of madrigals, chansons, ballettas and lute songs from 1584, telling tales of rebellion in the Netherlands against Spain and of Sir Walter Raleigh’s expedition to explore Roanoke Island.

Tickets are $21.95 per person and include a Renaissance-style meal. Tickets can be purchased by visiting http://madrigal.westphal.drexel.edu. Balcony seating will also be available on the night of the event at a discount rate of $3; this special discount ticket is for the concert only, dinner not included. Have questions, please call 215.895.1275 or e-mail les98@drexel.edu.