Victoria Philharmonic Choir
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI (1567 1643)
VESPERS OF 1610 (VESPRO DELLA BEATA VERGINE)
SATURDAY JUNE 8, 2024
8 PM, ST. ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL
Imagine yourself in Venice’s San Marco Basilica, thrilled by the sounds of a double choir, sackbuts, cornets and lutes, and magical 17th century vocal effects.
Peter Butterfield conducts the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, seven excellent local soloists and a special orchestra of early music specialists in this brilliant work - the largest choral piece in existence before JS Bach’s time. We are proud to present this great work, with almost every performer a part of our Victoria community.
The collection of pieces, psalms and songs which make up this Vespers in honour of Mary, the mother of Jesus, could be called the most creative job application in history, composed in the hope that it would impress the Pope of the early 1600s enough for him to employ Monteverdi at the Vatican. That didn’t work out, but it did eventually lead to the top position at San Marco Basilica.
The Vespers show Monteverdi’s mastery of Renaissance and Early Baroque polyphony, and were a magnificent influence on the development of Western European music, especially opera.
With choruses that split into as many as 10 vocal parts, stunning instrumental fanfares and a bass line that would sound right at home in a jazz club, this experience should not be missed.
The VPC’s previous performances of the Monteverdi Vespers, in 2013 and 2017, drew large and enthusiastic audiences.
Tickets will be available in April, from vpchoir.ca