AFFETTI BAROCCHI

24 January 2025, Friday
Time 19:00
The Palace on the Isle in the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw

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How many feelings a Baroque musical narrative can convey, and how many shades of emotion lie hidden in its expressive vocal and instrumental music! The concert program, which features compositions by outstanding creators active in Italy in the 17th century, will be opened by Monteverdi’s Sinfonia Claudia. Afterward, two of his famous laments will be performed – Lamento della Ninfa from Book VIII of Madrigals and Lamento d’Arianna from 1608. The only preserved fragment from the lost drama Arianne sparkles with expressive motifs – cries, sighs, and other musical means perfectly reflecting the words spoken by the protagonist. The laments composed by Barbara Strozzi are also incredibly moving. In Lagrime mie, this author of over 120 compositions uses bold melodies and interesting harmonic solutions to paint tears, pain, and suffering with sounds. The beginning of Che si puo fare, on the other hand, is marked by a descending, mournful melody in the ostinato bass line. The development of extensive solo melodies against the background of a melodic motif repeated multiple times in the lowest voice was a common technique of the Baroque era. It was also often used by, among others, Giovanni Sances, a multi-talented composer from Rome – whether in compositions of a serious nature (Usurpator tiranno) or slightly lighter ones (Lagrimosa belta).

A similarly wide range of emotions can be heard in purely instrumental compositions. The creator who significantly contributed to making instrumental music independent of vocal models was Tarquinio Merula. In his dance compositions, he departed from the strict form characteristic of functional music in favor of a refined play on meter and rhythm, which gave his pieces a particular lightness. Isabella Leonarda also left behind a significant collection of instrumental works, in addition to her rich liturgical body of work. During the concert, we will hear her Sonata prima, the successive sections of which delight with the variety of musical means used.

PROGRAM

Claudio Monteverdi – Sinfonia

Giovanni Sances – Usurpator tiranno

Barbara Strozzi – Che si puo fare

Tarquinio Merula – Ballo detto Eccardo

Tarquinio Merula – Ballo detto Pollicio

Claudio Monteverdi – Lamento della Ninfa

Isabella Leonarda – Sonata prima per due violini col basso

Claudio Monteverdi – Lamento d’Arianna

Barbara Strozzi – Lagrime mie

Tarquinio Merula – Ciaccona

Giovanni Sances – Lagrimosa belta

PERFORMERS

MARTA BOBERSKA SOPRANO

ANETA ŁUKASZEWICZ ALTO

THE PERIOD ISTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA

KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA HARPSICHORD, CONDUCTOR


Duration: approx. 1 h

The seats in the auditorium are not numbered.