They say that good things come in threes, and Pegasus Early Music's upcoming concert devoted to the "Three Ladies of Ferrara" should prove that old addage true. Showcasing the music of the late 16th-century concerto della donne ("consort of ladies"), the concert will be offered on three different days (October 31-November 2) and will feature the vocal virtuosity of three gifted sopranos, Hai-Ting Chinn, Laura Heimes, and Nell Snaidas. Deborah Fox, James E. Bobb, and Richard Kolb comprise the continuo group, and will punctuate the largely vocal program with solo works for lute and harpsichord.

In the courtly world of late 16th-century Italy, everybody who was anybody had a private "consort of ladies." Duke Alfonso II of Ferrara initiated the craze for collecting divas in the 1580's, largely to amuse his new young wife, Margherita Gonzaga D'Este, and a select group of their most musically discriminating friends and guests. But the stunning artistic achievements of his singing ladies also raised the prestige of Alfonso's court, and it was not long before other politically and artistically ambitious families followed suit. By 1585, the Medici family had a concerto della donne in Florence, as did the Orsini family in Rome, and the Gonzaga family in Mantua.

At first the singers were drawn from the ranks of noble ladies-in-waiting, but as the fad caught on and composers responded by creating ever more demanding repertoire, professional sopranos were required. Brought to court especially for the purpose of their musical training, this new class of female professional musician established the possibility of an independent artistic career for talented women, free from control from husband or father. True, they worked long hours, sometimes singing and dancing for up to six hours a day each day. But in return they received substantial salaries, deluxe apartments in their employers' palaces, and generous dowries when and if they married - in short, all the perks of upward social mobility the Renaissance had to offer.

Soprano Nell Snaidas, who will perform at the concert this weekend, says that, "the combination of three female voices is a timeless pleasure. From medieval nun's music to the Three Ladies of Ferrara, to the Andrews sisters and Destiny's Child, this captivating combination can be alternatively angelic, sultry, sweet, or powerful. In a way, it's a celebration of all things feminine."

The concerto della donne repertoire requires a high tessitura, a wide vocal range, and the ability to execute intricate embellishments, including passagi (the division of a single long note into multiple short ones), cadenze (extemporaneous embellishment of the penultimate note of a cadence), and tirate (fast scales). Sometimes ornaments were written out by the composer, but often the singer had to improvise, a practice made all the more impressive when done in an ensemble setting.

Asked why she chose to program this difficult repertoire, Pegasus founder Deborah Fox says, "It's really wonderful music; attractive, thrilling, and not heard very often," adding that "it isn't easy to find three sopranos whose voices are suited to the music, who enjoy working together, and who have the necessary chutzpah to take on this repertoire."

Fox says that Rochester audiences will be "surprised and delighted by the many different qualities they will hear in this music: the sweetness of the harmonies and the voices, the drama and variety of expression, the sheer virtuosity, and the immediacy of communication." The intimate setting provided by the salon at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, where the concerts will take place, is another factor Fox believes will create just the right atmosphere.

The program features ensemble works for two or three sopranos by Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Claudio Monteverdi, Francesca Caccini, Luigi Rossi, Domenico Mazzocchi, Luca Marenzio, Barbara Strozzi, and Francesco Manelli. Strozzi (d. 1677) was one of the premier singers, composers, and instrumentalists of her time, and also one of the last to cultivate this style of music. Her "Le tre grazie" represents the "three graces of love" in rich harmonies and textures, concluding with the vocal flourishes characteristic of the concerto della donne repertoire.

Early opera impresario Francesco Manelli's rarely heard "Accesso mio core," as yet unpublished in modern notation, is another special treat, featuring a partial reconstruction by Fox. Similarly, lutenist and musicologist Richard Kolb's intimate knowledge of Antonio Francesco Tenaglia brings especially expressive and tuneful works to the program that may not have been heard since the 17th century. Rossi's "Fan battaglia," a spirited battle song to Love, closes the program.

Scattered among the vocal ensembles are virtuosic solo works for each soprano (including Strozzi's "Lagrime mie," with its evocative chromatic opening), a solo Toccata by Alessandro Piccinini for lute featuring Fox, and a tour de force harpsichord solo by Bernardo Storace featuring James E. Bobb. Audiences are invited to attend informal pre-concert talks with the performers 45 minutes before each concert.

The Three Ladies

Pegasus Early Music

Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Ave

Friday, October 31-Sunday, November 2

Fri-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 4 p.m. | $10-$22 | 703-3990, PegasusEarlyMusic.org