Building on our exploration of the music in the courts of Renaissance Italy in the wake of Josquin’s tenure, this programme explores the development of the motet in the 16th century from Ferrara, across the Po and Adige rivers to Venice. 

The ‘Venetian school’ was birthed by composers who had strong links to Ferrara. 2022 marks the 500th anniversary of Jean Mouton, a great composer for the French Court. Based in Ferrara near the end of his life, 10 years after Josquin, he taught Adrian Willaert, whose long tenure as director of San Marco was fundamental to the later glories of Doge’s court. Willaert in turn inspired and taught the great music theorist Gioseffo Zarlino, who maintained close connections to the court at Ferrara even as he succeeded Willaert as Maestro di Cappella at San Marco.

In this programme, The Gesualdo Six highlight politics and emerging traditions that bind these composers together, exploring the motet form as it approaches its zenith with the rich polychoral techniques of the Gabrielis and Monteverdi.

Patron Priority Booking Opens 10am (GMT) Monday 7th March

Friends Priority Booking Opens 10am (GMT) Friday 11th March

General On Sale Opens 10am (GMT) Monday 14th March