On September 21, 2025, the Sale Apollinee of La Fenice Opera House will host a special evening in collaboration with Musikàmera, bringing together history, polyphony, and Venetian musical tradition. Under the direction of Francesco Erle, the Schola San Rocco and Ensemble La Misticanza will present El Profundo Mastora de la musica and the Princeps Musicae Venice pay homage to Palestrina — a program dedicated to the dialogue between the Venetian School and the great Roman master Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.
The concert will open with works by Adrian Willaert, founder of the Venetian School and maestro di cappella at St. Mark’s Basilica. His motets and madrigals (Ave maris stella, Laudate pueri, Confitebor tibi, Domine in toto corde meo, Amor fortuna, Sempre mi ride sta donna da bene) showcase the luminous polyphonic textures that would inspire generations of composers in Venice and beyond.
In contrast and dialogue, the program includes sacred and secular works by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, revered as the “Prince of Music.” His compositions (Ave maris stella, Laudate pueri, Confitebor tibi Domine quoniam iratus es, Amor fortuna, Who will extinguish my fire) reveal the spiritual intensity and refined counterpoint that made him one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance.
Francesco Erle, conductor, harpsichordist, and organist, is a specialist in early music. A long-time researcher of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, he combines scholarly rigor with expressive performance practice, frequently collaborating with leading ensembles dedicated to historical interpretation.
An evening where Venice’s polyphonic roots meet the timeless brilliance of Palestrina.
Website: www.musikamera.org
Location: La Fenice Opera House, Venice
Schedule: Sep. 21, 2025
