Monteverdi - Vespers
Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)

Saturday, 25 March 2017, 19:30 - 22:00
Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi is considered to have been a rather inventive composer in his time and his work is often regarded as 'revolutionary' as it marked the change from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. Whereas he retained the core element of polyphony that had developed out of the Renaissance period, he started to introduce new features like a bass continuo, an element of the emerging Baroque style.

Vespro della Beata Vergine (or, more casually, the Vespers of 1610) was published in 1610 and is made up of a series of alternating motets and psalms wrapped up with a set of Versicles & Responses at the start and settings of the Magnificat and Benedicamus Domino at the end.   At approx. 90 minutes in length, the work is monumental in scale, requiring a choir large enough that can stretch into 10 voices in places and split into separate choirs in others.   It was the most ambitious work of religious music of its time and remained so until Bach came along.

Ticket prices £25, £20, £15 (£10 for full-time students).  Tickets now on sale.

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