After twenty years of service, the middle-aged Monteverdi was unhappy in his position at the court in Mantua. In search of a new position, to demonstrate his artistic talents, Monteverdi wrote Vespro della Beata Vergine. The resulting Vespers was so spectacular that Monteverdi was given the music director position at St. Mark's in Venice, the premier church in Italy.  

A towering masterpiece for brass sextet, chamber orchestra, and voices, Vespro della Beata Vergine is at once intimate and resplendent, devotional and theatrical, pious and sensual. At Portland Bach Experience, hear the work as Monteverdi imagined it: sung one-on-a-part and performed on period instruments.

Featuring Madeline Healey, soprano; Sarah Brailey, soprano; Kate Maroney, mezzosoprano; Reginald Mobley, countertenor; Mark Laseter, tenor; Mark Sprinkle, tenor; Jonas Budris, baritenor; Sumner Thompson, baritenor; Paul Guttry, bass; and Steve Hrycelak, bass.

Portland Bach Experience Orchestra

Violin: Scott Metcalfe, Asako Takeuchi

Viola: Anna Griffis, Kyle Miller

Bass Violin: Emily Walhout

Bass: Andrew Arceci

Theorbo: Deborah Fox

Harpsichord: Michael Beattie

Cornetto and Recorder: Alex Opsahl, Kiri Tollaksen

Trombone and Recorder: Greg Ingles, Liza Malamut, Mack Ramsey, Erik Schmalz