Monteverdi: Vespers (1610)
David Hill, conductor

7:30 PM / Preconcert talk at 6:30 PM

Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, also known as the Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, constitutes one of the most remarkable collections of sacred music ever published. In it, Monteverdi showcased his mastery of the most advanced compositional techniques of his day, stating in his preface his hopes that the volume would be pleasing to God and the pope while silencing the mouths of the composer’s detractors. Though his fame today rests mainly on his operas and madrigals, we should be reminded that Monteverdi composed sacred music throughout his life, and the Vespers stands as his first major contribution to that genre.