Swansong

About

Swansong is a conceptual Baroque concert curated by Venice Music Project that explores the hidden, often tumultuous private lives of 18th-century singers and historical figures once the stage lights go out. It contrasts their celebrated public personas as “First Men” of Venetian theatres—admired by Europe’s wealthiest patrons—with private realities marked by tears, blood, and intrigue. The program centers on three archetypes tied to real figures: the spy, the libertine, and the soldier. Through music by Atto Melani (a spy for the French king), Alessandro Stradella (a noblewoman’s lover), and Kaspar Förster (a soldier of the Venetian Republic who fought against the Turks), the concert reconstructs the sound world and atmosphere of the era. Set in the historic Scuola Grande dei Carmini, the audience experiences this repertoire in a space akin to those for which it was originally conceived, heightening the authenticity and immediacy of the performance.