The Three Giovannis

Available for 28 days

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 Friday’s show, Donald explores the final years of dominance for the Venetian School and the music of the 3 different men called Giovanni employed by St Mark’s at this time: Giovanni Gabrieli, Giovanni Bassano and Giovanni Croce. He also sees how the myth of Venice herself played an important role in the Republic’s musical scene, and discovers how a new Pope in Rome caused a rift with Venice and saw the music standards of the most serene Republic begin to decline. Giovanni Gabrieli Sonata XX a 22 Taverner Players Andrew Parrott, conductor Giovanni Croce Quaeramus cum pastoribus Voces Suaves Concerto Scirocco Giulia Genini, director Giovanni Bassano Tota pulchra es La Guilde des Mercenaires Adrien Mabire, director Giovanni Gabrieli Kyrie Ex Cathedra His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts Concerto Palatino Jeffrey Skidmore, director Giovanni Gabrieli O quam suavis London Oratory Schola Cantorum Charles Cole, director Giulio Cesare Martinengo Regum Mundi Ensemble Prima Toni Nicola Lamon, director Giovanni Gabrieli Litaniae Beatae Mariae Virginis (a 8), C63 Choir of King’s College Cambridge Stephen Cleonbury, director