Monteverdi's Venice: two centuries of music from St Mark's

One of the world's most famous churches, in the sixteenth century St Mark's became renowned also for its glorious music, which musicians and others came from all over Europe to hear.

This musical prestige was established in large part by Adrian Willaert, chapelmaster at St Mark's from the 1520s to the 1550s. It is with Willaert's music that our musical survey begins in this concert.

The centrepiece of the concert is Monteverdi's six-voice Missa In illo tempore, published in the same collection as his famous Vespers of 1610.

We also include motets by Monteverdi and Gabrieli, and settings of the Crucifixus, including two of the extraordinary versions by Antonio Lotti and a setting for 16 voices by Antonio Caldara.