The Art of the Madrigal from Marenzio to Monteverdi

Love, Reason, Illusion, Intellect

The early seventeenth century represents a period of exceptional refinement in the history of vocal music. This era witnessed the culmination of the polyphonic madrigal tradition at its most expressive, while simultaneously ushering in the revolutionary emergence of the “seconda pratica”—a new aesthetic that placed the solo voice at the heart of musical discourse. From the ethereal sonorities of multi-voiced composition to the dramatic expression of emotional “affetti”, this transition marked a profound evolution in style and sensibility. The programme presented here juxtaposes these two coexisting dimensions, offering the listener a captivating journey through a landscape of contrasts—light and shadow, restraint and passion, complexity and clarity.