St Mark's Basilica in Venice was at the height of its rise to fame and fortune in the mid 17th century, and Cavalli followed the famed Monteverdi as maestro di cappella there - probably the most important musical appointment in Italy at the time. Venice celebrated everything with great pomp and ceremony. So the music Cavalli provided for his setting of the Vespers is on a par with the better known setting by Monteverdi, utilising double choir, soloists, and an impressive array of instruments including cornetti, sackbuts, theorbo and lute alongside strings, harpsichord and organ.
This spectacular reconstruction of music for the great basilica of St Mark in Venice will make use of the splendid acoustic of Hexham Abbey. Cavalli was best known for his operas - even writing one for the marriage of Louis XIV of France and Marie Antoinette - and his music is full of colour and drama, athletic solos interspersed with lyrical instrumental interludes, and dancing rhythms.
The performance will be complemented by music from other Venetian composers, including Giovanni Rovetta and Alessandro Grandi alongside the more familiar Monteverdi and Giovanni Gabrieli. This performing edition, by the Guild's Director and revised for this performance, is due to be published by King's Music.
Saturday 21st June, 2008 at 7.30pm in Hexham Abbey, Northumberland, NE46 3NB.
Tickets are £8 (under 18s £2) and are available at the door and in advance from Hexham Abbey Gift Shop. This concert is part of Hexham Abbey's Music in the Abbey. The Abbey's information line is 01434 602031.
