The Baroque era gave us splendid architecture and magnificent art. It also inspired glorious music that resonated under the gilded domes and painted ceilings of Italy’s great chapels, that echoed from balcony to balcony in St Mark’s, Venice.

We invite you to step back to this visionary age when music evoked powerful emotions with striking and dramatic musical imagery – even in church!

This transcendent program featuring our Chamber Singers and an ensemble of period instruments begins with Domenico Scarlatti’s intense, almost graphic setting of the Stabat Mater – inviting empathy with the very real grief of Mary at the foot of the cross. It’s followed by expressions of faith and joy, and a fervent mass setting by Monteverdi. Through it all you’ll hear the voices of the Chamber Singers, weaving together in 4, 8, 10 or more parts. A choir, yes, but also an ensemble of individual virtuosos working as equals-in-harmony as they move you to ecstasy, and tears, in this celebration of the Italian Baroque.

This performance will run for 1 hour and 10 minutes. No interval.

PROGRAM

Domenico SCARLATTI Stabat Mater
Antonio CALDARA Crucifixus a 16 voci
Giacomo CARISSIMI Dixit Dominus
Claudio MONTEVERDI Messa a 4 voci, SV 190
Giovanni GABRIELI Hodie completi sunt dies Pentecostes
Antonio LOTTI Crucifixus a 8 voci

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
Chamber Singers
Sydney Philharmonia Baroque Ensemble