Les Arts Florissants & Paul Agnew

Plagiarism? Far from it! When Monteverdi emulated or even imitated his masters, it was simply a respectful tribute. As a young gambist in Mantua, Monteverdi was able to observe and copy stars such as Giaches De Wert. A pair of the greatest poets of the age, Guarini and Tasso, were also present. Their artistic ambitions turned out to be perfectly in tune with Monteverdi's own musical ambitions: it was all about emotion, the text took precedence over the music, the listener had to feel! All sorts of highly expressive new genres arose from that revolution, the seconda prattica. Over the past few years, Les Arts Florissants, led by Paul Agnew, have been studying Monteverdi's eight books of madrigals. During their first visit to Bruges, they will perform his work in its correct musical and poetic context. The greatest emotions in the smallest configuration. 

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