Hildegard // Bernard

Hildegard of Bingen and Bernard of Clairvaux are two legendary monastics of the 12th century. Their intersecting lives helped shape an awakening Europe, and behind the legends and hagiography stand two remarkably human figures.

Hildegard’s divine visions and astonishing compositions made her famous in her own day, even as an abbess of a small convent far from the courts of power. Her contemporary Bernard became a monk at age 20, and achieved immense celebrity as preacher, miracle worker, and moral compass of Europe.

Both of these monastics had exquisite medieval minds, with a superhuman command of scripture that allowed wild exegesis. But while Hildegard preached ecstasy and art, Bernard preached obedience and simplicity (and the 2nd Crusade), and both preached quiet and seclusion, but travelled extensively and participated actively in world affairs.

Theotokos recreates the musical world of the 12th century and its monasteries to put these surprising humans into their proper context. Readings from letters and homilies, as well as a special cameo by Peter Abelard, render these personalities even more vivid.

Theotokos Ensemble

Rocky Duval, mezzo-soprano

leiken, tenor

Doug Balliett, direction

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