Marco Vitale: Monteverdi Evening

I am Music, who with sweet accents

Can calm every troubled heart,

And now with noble anger, now with Love,

Can inflame even the coldest minds.

     A FAVOLA IN MUSICA

An Evening with Monteverdi’s Orfeo

Listening, analysis, and reflections

Dear friends, I would like to invite a few music-loving friends and colleagues to an informal evening dedicated to Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo — a work that still astonishes us with its expressive power, inventiveness, and dramatic intelligence.

Throughout the evening, I will play at the harpsichord, analyse selected moments from the opera, and explore how Monteverdi shapes drama through harmony, rhythm, text, and gesture. We will look closely at key scenes, uncovering details that often pass unnoticed, while also stepping back to appreciate the broader genius of the work.

The evening is intended both for those who already love Monteverdi and also for those who would like to understand more deeply why Orfeo marks such a decisive moment in the history of music.

The gathering will take place at St. Barnabas Church, Victoria, on February 20th at 7pm, in a relaxed and private atmosphere among friends. There will be a small reception afterwards.

There is no admission charge, and I am not receiving any fee. If anyone wishes to make a voluntary contribution, it will be donated entirely to the church music program, as a gesture of gratitude for their hospitality.

An evening of listening, curiosity, and shared discovery. I hope you can come. Warm wishes, Marco NB: Please RSVP to this email: Kate Miller: kate@themillers.ca