La Tempête

Monteverdi. Vespro della Beata Vergine

The last time the French ensemble La Tempête visited Bozar, our concert hall was bathed in a golden glow and Stravinsky sparkled alongside De Machaut. This time, Simon-Pierre Bestion has his singers and musicians tackle Claudio Monteverdi’s colossal Vespro della Beata Vergine. Subtle scenography transforms the Vespers into a unique concert experience. When he composed the piece in 1613, Monteverdi had his heart set on the job of maestro di cappella in Venice. This application letter for the post reads like the culmination of the church music of his time, written under the spell of the marble and mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica.