GRANDS CONCERTS: LA GUILDE DES MERCENAIRES / RIPOSTA
The Riposta programme is an overview of Venetian music of the early 17th century, a key period in which a whole new style emerged in the art of composition at the very apogee of deep political, religious and artistic tensions.
“The Venetians are born free and do not have to explain themselves before anyone but God, who stands alone above the doge in the resolution of affairs,” this reply addressed to Pope Paul V by the Republic of Venice in 1605 leaves no doubt about its position towards the church authorities. In the Venice of that era, representatives of the Church have no political power and may be brought before a civil court if they violate the laws of the republic.
The conflict with the Pope will eventually lead to the excommunication of the republic and its subjects. Officially, the Venetians are not allowed to celebrate Mass, administer or receive the sacraments. So what if doge Leonardo Donà and the Venetian senators, deeply religious but aware of their duties, will most simply forbid the publication of the papal interdict…. Thus, the Venetians continue their religious practices, combining them as always with an incredible artistic component, the most astonishing one in Europe at the time.
Meanwhile, in 1610, Claudio Monteverdi, then still associated with the court of the Duchy of Mantua, dedicates his most important sacred work Vespro della Beata Vergine to Pope Paul V. Shortly afterwards, in 1613, the composer takes the position of maestro di cappella, one of the most important honours for a musician at the time, at the Venice Basilica of St Mark.
The programme of the La Guilde des Mercenaries ensemble fits into the context of these political and artistic conflicts and dynamic changes. The musical history of the 17th, that is Italian seicento, begins in the polyphonic tradition of prima pratica. However, the vocal pieces are progressively enriched with embellishments and diminutions, the literary text comes to the fore, the voice gains primacy, and the instruments independently stand out rather than doubling it. The basso continuo and a new instrumental form – the sonata – appear; the latter is forged even before it receives that name. With the seconda pratica, developed especially by Claudio Monteverdi, a completely new way of writing music is born.
While secular and religious authorities dispute over Venice in the early 17th century, its composers and musicians emanate with creativity and invention. What can be seen as an artistic retort (riposta in Italian, hence the title of the concert) to the tumult of the age in their rendition, gives rise to a new musical aesthetics: in a period of conflict and tension, artists seek a new harmony of the world.
Performers:
La Guilde des Mercenaires
Adrien Mabire – artistic director
Programme:
RIPOSTA
Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) Venite, venite, sitientes ad acquas
Alessandro Grandi (1557–1630) O quam tu pulchra es
Claudio Monteverdi Cantate Domino SV 293
Giovanni Valentini (ca. 1582–1649) Conzon
Claudio Monteverdi Sancta Maria
Giovanni Picchi (1571–1643) Canzon seconda (Canzoni da sonar con ogni sorte d’istromenti)
Giovanni Battista Bovicelli (1549–1614) Angelus ad Pastores
Francesco Rognoni (1570–1626) Quanti mercenarii
Claudio Monteverdi O come sei gentile SV 120
Ignazio Donati (1570–1638) Domine inclina coelos
Tarquinio Merula (1595–1665) Hor ch’è tempo di dormire
Giovanni Andrea Cima (1570–1622) Capriccio
Claudio Monteverdi Et e pur dunque vero SV 250
Giovanni Gabrieli Canzon prima
Claudio Monteverdi Ohime, dov’il mio ben SV 140
Claudio Monteverdi Quel sguardo sdegnosetto SV 247
Attention! The concert time has changed. The concert will now take place at 8:00 PM.
All previously purchased tickets and passes remain valid and do not require exchange.
Organizers
