“When Love Was Art,” June 25, 2010

Craig Resta, vielle; Constance Whiteside, director and medieval harp; Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, mezzo soprano; Allison Mondel, soprano; Marjorie Bunday, alto; Jay White, countertenor

“chill beauty … an operatic level of engagement”

Joe Banno, Washington Post, June 28, 2010

“a truly wonderful program … the blending of the voices and instruments was electric.”

Bob Anthony, allarts4U, June 27, 2010

“Armonia Nova’s performance of French love songs from the thirteenth through fifteenth centuries…bridged the gap between medieval times and ours, sounding strikingly immediate and real.”

“Armonia Nova confirmed once again the Washington Early Music Festival reliably provides committed, engaging performances of under-heard music.”

Andrew Malone, DMV Classical Review, June 29, 2010

Twelfth Night: From the Lands of Ice and Snow, January 2 & 3, 2010

The Armonia Nova's yearly “Twelfth Night” program is probably the most relaxing and meaningful musical program during the Christmastide as, with quiet music and old instruments, the group tells the no-frills story of the Christmas story of the birth of the Babe and its contrastive religious implications. This year at the historic Christ Church in Old Town Alexandria, two musicians and two singers inspired with 13th and 14th Century songs in olde English, French and German and especially impressive was the quiet lullaby of “Lullay, lullay: Als I lay on Yoolis night.” It was the selection that the clear alto of Majorie Bunday and “smoky” mezzo of Allison Mondel blended to perfection to tell the story of the angel Gabriel’s exclamation of the birth of the Christ child. The earlier century’s musical instruments played by Constance Whiteside and Douglas Walters gave gentle string support that chilled. Forget the venality of stressed shopping and unrewarding gift giving next Christmas season and just wait for the Armonia Nova’s “Twelfth Night” to fulfill the appropriate joyous and all encompassing celebration of the nativity. This Armonia Nova group also has other programs scheduled during the year that features classic and historical music from the music pages of previous centuries. Check them out!

(Bob Anthony, allartsreview4u.com)

In arrangements of Hildegard von Bingen’s chants with harpist Constance Whiteside, Marjorie Bunday and Allison Mondel blended their voices in a spellbinding performance of textural simplicity and rhythmic freedom.

(Washington Post 2009)

Armonia Nova's "Twelfth Night" concert at the Old Christ Church in Alexandria was one of the two finest and most inspiring concerts of the Christmas season … along with the Christmas Revels at Lisner. Both productions were simpler than most competing events and, ultimately, far more beautiful as they cut to the essence of distinctive holiday traditions. Armonia Nova chose to explore very early English carols and other period music from the British Isles. With only a harpist, a violinist and an alto and a countertenor, the classical instruments gave divine effect and the distinctive voices of the singers were purity plus. The lyrics were often difficult although a printed pass-out interpreted in current English. Artistic director, Constance Whiteside, and violinist, Craig Resta, fully described their classic instruments between their excellent precisioned playing. Countertenor Jay White fully described the linguistic changes from Celtic, Norman and Old English to the present day. Jay White was outstanding as a soloist or when dueting with finely ranged alto Marjorie Bunday. Unlike some countertenors, White did not seem to be forcing his voice into a falsetto range and sang with confident volume. It was a very appreciative audience who, no doubt, trust that this group will provide similar entertainment during the next holiday season.

(Stephen Neal Dennis, allartsreview4u.com)