baroque harp
Christa Patton is an early harp specialist with a particular focus on the repertoire of the early 17th century. Her individual vocabulary of style in this genre emerged from her years of study in Northern Italy where the essence of this music speaks through its native environs. Her particular love of early opera has lead her to participate in productions of Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, L’Incoronatione di Poppea, and L’Orfeo with the New York City Opera, Opera Vivente, Wolf Trap Opera, Tafelmusik, and Opera Atelier and in Luigi Rossi’s Orfeo with the Toronto Consort. In addition, Christa has appeared as a guest with Apollo’s Fire, The King’s Noyse, Blue Heron, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, La Nef, The Folger Consort and ARTEK.
As a specialist in early 17th century repertoire, Christa has directed vocal style and led the continuo in productions of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo at Stony Brook University, Queens College, and Yale University’s Baroque Opera Program (YBOP). She is also a faculty member of the New York Continuo Collective. As a clinician Christa has held workshops for the, Madison Early Music Festival, Pinewoods Early Music week, the Historical Harp Society and the Medieval Institute at Longy School of Music. As a lecturer she has covered topics ranging from ornamentation in the Faenza Codex to Spanish accompaniment in the 17th century.
As a multi-instrumentalist Christa has toured the Americas, Europe and Japan with Piffaro the Renaissance Band, Early Music New York, and Ex Umbris. Her recordings include “Istampitta” on the Lyrachord label, “Chacona” also on the Dorian label, “Trionfo d’Amore e della Morte” on the Dorian label, and the newest release entitled “Waytes.”
As a Fulbright Scholar Christa studied the Italian Baroque harp at the Civica Scuola di Musica in Milan, Italy with historical harp specialist, Mara Galassi. While there she performed with the Laboratorio permanente sulla Musica vocale del XVII secolo at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, the Barbarini Palace in Rome and at the Tempio dell’Incoronatain Lodi under the direction of Monteverdi specialist and director of Ensemble Concerto, Roberto Gini. She is presently completing her Doctorate at Stony Brook University as a student of the esteemed harpsichordist, Arthur Haas.