A New Rome

By the beginning of the 16th century, Venice was in commercial decline, and the financial clout of the first and longest-lived of the European Empires was fading. However, just as the Republic’s political power was starting to ebb, artistic and cultural life began to flourish as never before. Venice became the centre of the cultural world. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod explores this extraordinary period when music flourished throughout Venice’s streets and in the churches, palaces and public buildings which had sprung up all across the city, and the composers whose work came to define the age – the Venetian School.

In Monday’s programme, Donald explores the factors which led to the cultural explosion in Venice, finding a city teeming with music – from the publishing houses to the songs of the gondoliers and the music which accompanied ceremonial occasions, to the centre of sacred music making in the city – the golden splendour of the basilica of St Mark’s and its new director of music – Adrien Willaert.

Giovanni Gabrieli
O Magnum Mysterium
London Oratory Schola Cantorum
Charles Cole, director

Claudio Merulo
Benedicam Dominum (extracts)
Chamber Choir of Europe
Nicol Matt, director

Francesco Canova da Milano
Fantasia no 19 “Bellissima”
Nigel North, lute

Adrien Willaert
Vecchie Letrose
Dominique Visse, alto
Capella de la torre
Katharina Bäuml, director

Adrien Willaert
Infelix ego
Gesualdo Six
Owain Park, director

Claudio Merluo
Toccata 8
Silas Wollston, organ

Adrien Willaert
Veni Sanctus Spiritus
South West German Radio Vocal Ensemble
Marcus Creed, director