The Voice of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy

CANTO FIORITO

Renata Dubinskaitė, mezzo-soprano

Andrea Buccarella, organ, harpsichord

Rodrigo Calveyra, artistic direction, cornetto, recorders

The Vasa dynasty was one of the most music oriented among the ruler’s houses in Europe in the late renaissance period. Sigismund III stands out; he was such a music lover that he made a revolution in his Royal cappella. As a child, he was instructed in singing and harpsichord, and since he grew up among Jesuit musicians who came from the Roman Collegium Germanicum, he had contact with the music of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the most prominent representant of the Roman School. 

Shortly after being crowned Polish King and Lithuanian Grand Duke, Sigismund III hired 16 musicians from Italy, led by Annibale Stabile, pupil of Palestrina and kapellmeister of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas. Tarquinio Merula, Luca Marenzio and Giovanni Valentini were some of the splendid Italian musicians who served Sigismund III. It’s important to mention that Sigismund, his court and musicians were living several months per year in Vilnius, where the quality of musical activities was deeply improved. Apparently, his son and successor Wladyslaw IV inherited Sigismund’s love for music, which lead him to stage the first operas in Vilnius earlier than Paris or London! 

The situation at the Vasa’s Royal chapel was so unique that eventually it turned famous in whole Europe, and Sigismund III and Wladyslaw IV became beloved among Italian musicians. That’s why so many of them dedicated to them important musical works, such Francesco Rognoni, Francesca Caccini, Benedetto Ferrari and Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger. 

The Voice of Lithuanian Grand Duchy brings back to light the remarkable musical heritage of the Vasa court, presenting composers who dedicated music these rulers, displaying their remarkable impact on the music production at their court and in Italy at their times.

Vilniuje veikiantis senosios muzikos ansamblis „Canto Fiorito“, kuriam vadovauja garsus korneto ir išilginės fleitos atlikėjas Rodrigo Calveyra, savo veiklą pradėjo 2013 metais. Kolektyvo misija yra tyrinėti ir atlikti Renesanso ir Baroko muziką, ypatingą dėmesį skiriant XVII a. pirmos pusės Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės ir Abiejų Tautų Respublikos muzikos paveldui.