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La Serenissima: Music from the Republic of Venice (697–1797)

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ALBA CONSORTMargo Andrea ~ mezzo-soprano, vielle & zills
Carlo Valte ~ oud
Rex Benincasa ~ percussion (including darbuka, riq, frame drum, tambourine, castanets), tenor & psaltery
Jason Priset ~ lute, guitar & vihuela

The Republic of Venice, commonly known as La Serenissma ("the most serene") was a sovereign state and thalassocracy, a maritime empire, from 697–1797 AD. Its overseas possessions included parts of Greece and Anatolia, Cyprus, and even at one time Alexandrea, Egypt. Its mighty fleet and army fought in the 4th crusade (1204) and the Ottoman-Venetian wars (1396–1718). The Republic was also called "The Republic of Music". Venice hailed Monteverdi, Barbara Strozzi, and Vivaldi, and was home to Ottaviano Petrucci and Franciscus Bossinensis, music printers and publishers whose work was distributed internationally. In this program, ALBA Consort summons the music one might hear in the ports of La Serenissima.

ALBA CONSORT specializes in early music from the Mediterranean to the Middle East, illuminating poetry and improvisation traditions with voice, vielle, oud, lute and percussion. Performances include at University of Chicago Presents; Early Music Now; Academy of Early Music; GEMS Midtown Concerts; and NY Philharmonic’s New World Initiative. ALBA highlights cross-cultural influences through ancient and modern music.

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1:15–2:00 pm
All concerts are free; no tickets or reservations are necessary.

In person at St. Malachy's Church, 239 West 49th Street, Manhattan

Live stream details: You can watch it on your computer in any of two places by clicking on the name you wish: our website or YouTube.

GEMS is a non-profit corporation that supports and promotes the artists and organizations in New York devoted to early music — playing repertoire from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods.