Like every other city in Europe, Venice was afflicted with the plague several times over the centuries. The 1575-1577 epidemic was the worst to hit the city on the lagoon. Right at the beginning of the epidemic, in 1575, the Venetians started building a church as both an act of penance and a symbol of their hope that the epidemic would end soon. When the church was inaugurated, and during later ceremonies, music was played by the best composers working at St Mark’s Basilica, such as Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli. For this concert, a piece was commissioned from the American composer Robert Kyr. Under the working title Vigil: Darkness into Light, the piece reaches out to Renaissance music.
Performers
Hana Blažíková, Barbora Kabátková, soprano | Alex Potter, countertenor | Benedict Hymas, Jan Van Elsacker, tenor | Jaromir Nosek, bass | Veronika Skuplik, violin | Charles Toet, Simen Van Mechelen, Joost Swinkels, Claire McIntyre, trombone | Miriam Shalinsky, violone | Kris Verhelst, organ | Bruce Dickey, cornetto & artistic leader