Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers
During this course we explore Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine, arguably the most ambitious work of religious music before Bach. The term “Vespers” (evening prayers) is taken from the Hours of the Divine Office, a set of daily prayers of the Catholic Church, which have remained structurally unchanged for 1500 years. This 90-minute masterpiece includes soloists, chorus, and orchestra and comprises both liturgical and extra-liturgical elements.
