Monteverdi’s Marian Vespers

Mantua was too small for Monteverdi: the Gonzagas’ scintillating but demanding court began to feel restrictive. He therefore set his sights on a regular and prestigious church appointment as maestro di cappella. But before that could become a reality Monteverdi, who had spent years composing operas and madrigals, needed a portfolio religious music. His answer was his 1610 publication of a Mass and a collection of Vesper psalms, nowadays known as the Vespro della Beata Vergine. In this masterpiece, Monteverdi builds a bridge between the old polyphonic church music - a legacy from the Low Countries - and the burgeoning Baroque. He does so by transforming Gregorian psalm melodies into a new style that sparkles and shines with virtuosity, with vocal and instrumental parts interacting and vying to outdo each other. And even though this gem is undoubtedly Monteverdi's most famous composition, it still has plenty of secrets left to discover. Philippe Herreweghe and Peter Van Heyghen bring us their interpretation of this masterpiece. A unique concert, don’t miss it!