Relic in Ann Arbor, MI: The Blood of the Rose

The Blood of the Rose celebrates the rich tradition of Baroque music in Peru through an instrumental telling of the Venus and Adonis story. Relic’s newly curated program, “The Blood of the Rose,” celebrates the rich tradition of Baroque music in 1700s Peru through an instrumental adaptation of the Venus and Adonis story. In five musical “chapters,” punctuated by spoken excerpts from Calderón’s lush libretto, this dramatic program depicts Venus and Adonis’s blossoming romance, Mars’s vicious attempts to destroy their love, and the couple’s ultimate tragic demise. “The Blood of the Rose” is a seamless curation of Baroque music from across Europe and Latin America, with a focus on Spanish and Latin American music and Venus and Adonis-inspired works. Featured composers include Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco, Ignatius Sancho, John Blow, and others. Lauded as “stylish and innovative” (New York Classical Review), Relic is a period instrument chamber orchestra that connects with audiences through intimate, imaginative and dramatic representations of early music. Currently in its third season, Relic has quickly built a reputation for its cutting-edge performances of both well-loved and lesser-known masterworks of the Baroque era. Relic’s innovative programming, which uses narrative “chapters” to unite a variety of repertoire into a breathtaking concert experience, has captured the hearts of new and seasoned concert-goers alike. Founded in 2022 by six musicians with a shared creative vision, Relic's commitment to taking early music on the road brings it to dozens of communities each season. Relic’s recent and upcoming presenters include Chamber Music Detroit; The Newport Classical Music Festival; Fontana Chamber Arts; Music Before 1800; The Banners Series at McNeese; Houston Early Music; and Indianapolis Early Music Festival, among others. Through its own initiative, Relic has self-produced concerts in Washington D.C., Appleton, WI, Batavia, IL, Greenbelt, MD, New Canaan, CT, New York City, and Richmond, VA, and New Orleans, LA.