Event programme

Palestrina: Canticum Canticorum

Palestrina never abandoned the polyphonic style, for which he stands as both the pinnacle and its final evolution. Among all the compositions by the Princeps musicae, the Song of Songs is the most representative. It seems to glimpse, albeit distantly, the early experiments of Recitar cantando, which would eventually lead to the grand era of opera. Our interpretation of the work, stemming from these musicological insights, takes a different path from the traditional a cappella vocal arrangement. Only the melodic lines of the two protagonists, Shulamite and Solomon, are sung, while the remaining parts are played by instruments like the Renaissance transverse flute, Renaissance guitar, and lute. This approach creates a varied sonic tapestry, blending the expansive phrasing and rich sound of the voices and flute with the crystalline airiness of the plucked instruments.