Concert "The Voices of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy"

Renata Dubinskaitė, mezzo-soprano

Andrea Buccarella, organ, harpsichord

Rodrigo Calveyra, artistic direction, cornetto, recorders

 

The Vasa dynasty was one of the most music oriented among the ruler’s houses in Europe in the late renaissance period. Sigismund III stands out; he was such a music lover that he made a revolution in his Royal cappella. As a child, he was instructed in singing and harpsichord, and since he grew up among Jesuit musicians who came from the Roman Collegium Germanicum, he had contact with the music of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the most prominent representant of the Roman School.

 

Shortly after being crowned Polish King and Lithuanian Grand Duke, Sigismund III hired 16 musicians from Italy, led by Annibale Stabile, pupil of Palestrina and kapellmeister of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas. Tarquinio Merula, Luca Marenzio and Giovanni Valentini were some of the splendid Italian musicians who served Sigismund III. It’s important to mention that Sigismund, his court and musicians were living several months per year in Vilnius, where the quality of musical activities was deeply improved. Apparently, his son and successor Wladyslaw IV inherited Sigismund’s love for music, which lead him to stage the first operas in Vilnius earlier than Paris or London!

 

The situation at the Vasa’s Royal chapel was so unique that eventually it turned famous in whole Europe, and Sigismund III and Wladyslaw IV became beloved among Italian musicians. That’s why so many of them dedicated to them important musical works, such Francesco Rognoni, Francesca Caccini, Benedetto Ferrari and Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger.

 

The Voices of Lithuanian Grand Duchy brings back to light the remarkable musical heritage of the Vasa court, presenting composers who dedicated music these rulers, displaying their remarkable impact on the music production at their court and in Italy at their times.

Francesca Caccini (1587–1640) (dedicated her first opera “La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina” to Wladyslaw Vasa)

Sirena’s Song from the opera

 

Giovanni Valentini (ca. 1582–1649) (worked for Sigismund Vasa and dedicated his collection to Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius, the military ruler of the Grand Duchy)

Ti lascio anima mia

 

Benedetto Ferrari (c. 1603–1681) (dedicated his collection to Sigismund Vasa)

Voglio di vita uscir (Rodrigo solo) 3’

Tarquinio Merula (1595–1665) (dedicated his collection to Sigismund Vasa and worked as the organist of his court)

 

Ch'Amor Sia Nudo

 

Girolamo Kapsberger (c. 1580–1651)(dedicated his drama per musica piece to  Wladyslaw Vasa)

 

O monumenti, apritevi

 

O gloriosa Domina

 

Hor ch’e tempo di dormire

 

G.P.Palestrina/Francesco Rognoni (mid.16^th century – after 1626) (Rognoni dedicated his collection to Sigismund Vasa)