Rossi 400 | Vache Baroque Project 23-24

SALOMONEROSSI

THESONGSOFSOLOMON A400thyearcelebration

Salomone

ROSSI ROSSI

WhowasRossi?

Salomone Rossi was a highly respected Jewish composer and principal violinist in the court of Mantua, working alongside Claudio Monteverdi in the decades either side of 1600. Today, it is Rossi's famous colleague who enjoys the spotlight, with L’Orfeo (premiered in Mantua in 1607) celebrated as a quality marker for the start of opera. Its scoring requires a sizeable group of immensely sensitive musicians who were asked to play with "much invention and variety". Rossi would have been an inspiring leader in such a ensemble - a first among equals. No doubt because of this, he was one of a select number Jews permitted by the ruling elite not to wear a star of David on his clothing

RossitheInnovator

In the same year as the premiere of Monteverdi’s opera, Rossi published the first of four collections of instrumental music that would set a new precedent for pieces in trio texture - two treble instruments and a harmonised bass line Years later, having composed a large number of secular songs and madrigals as was fashionable throughout Europe, Rossi published another groundbreaking volume: Ha-shirim asher li-Shlomo or The Songs of Solomon (a pun on his name and The Song of Solomon). In it he set psalms and other sacred Hebrew texts to music in a contemporary style, something that had never been done before.

WhyNow?

Exactly 400 years ago, this novel experiment in cultural synthesis is a key moment in our shared history that deserves celebration. Alongside selections of Rossi's instrumental music, our programmes will pair sacred and secular vocal pieces with settings of the same texts by other 17th-century composers in their own vernaculars, including Heinrich Schütz, William Byrd, and Claudio Monteverdi. It will be a celebration not just of the communicative and political power of language, but also of Rossi set deservedly in the company of the famed composers of his time.

Two cutting-edge, contemporary videos, making Rossi's music accessible & relatable. Starring magnetic BirdGang Ltd dancers. Released online in July 2023. Supporters' première & drinks in Mayfair on

Tuesday11July

SJSSCONCERT

A Hannukah celebration of Rossi's 'The Songs of Solomon' set alongside other contemporary vernacular psalm settings from across Europe

Running time c.2 hours including an interval.

Wednesday13December

A series of bespoke dinner-concerts at synagogues and venues across the UK, culminating in a VIP gala event in the Great Hall of The Vache on

Saturday4November

IMMERSIVE DINNER-CONCERTS ITALIANTOUR

Concert programme tour to venues across Italy, including Lerici Music Festival in

Summer2024

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MUSICVIDEOS project

To contextualise the secular vocal music composed by Rossi in the decades before the publication of The Songs of Solomon, we will create three short films: two madrigals - by Rossi and the English composer Thomas Weelkes - and one of Rossi's opening prayer in Hebrew.

Director Hannah Lovell will lead our filming at One Friendly Place and other locations across Deptford, London. These videos are at the very heart of our project, presenting Rossi's music in an accessible, relevant and relatable way in order to reach new audiences. Birdgang Ltd. dancers will bring the stories to life in Ukweli Roach's choreography, starring alongside six Vache Baroque singers and a chitarrone player.

We will release these videos across our digital and social media platforms in July, where they will be available to watch free of charge.

For those who may never have heard a madrigal, we will make clear through the style and direction of these videos how this ancient musical genre transmitted the intensity of love and loss in much the same way as the vocal pop music of our modern era.

Supporters' première screening in Mayfair, London

1

FormatOptions:

Sung opening prayer 2 mins

First Course

Musical Offering 20 mins

Main Course

Musical Offering 20 mins

Dessert

Musical Offering 15 mins

2

DINNER programme

Music during service 7 mins

Canapés & Drinks Reception

Full Programme 50 mins

Dinner

Full Programme 57 mins

Canapés & Drinks Reception

3 VIP Dinner-Concert at The Vache, HP8 4SD

Saturday4Nov

An evening event where Jewish-Italian cuisine will be paired with a musical menu of sacred and secular vocal pieces by Rossi and his contemporaries from across Europe Joyful prayers, lamenting solo songs, and passionate madrigals will be sung in Hebrew, Italian, Latin, and English, accompanied by the sounds of a chitarrone (a large lute popular at the time) and Baroque guitar Here is a musical example from our friends Profeti della Quinta.

Our catering partner Chef Adam Nathan specialises in creating delicious bespoke menus with an accent on Jewish cuisine. For these meat-free and kosher events, he is excited to weave Italian elements into his cookery to marry the styles of the food and music. A double feast for our guests!

We will create a bespoke format for each dinner-concert event, led by the expertise and knowledge of each community's particular preferences. We have listed three possible formats above. We would be very happy to collaborate with in-house catering teams too.

CARCIOFIALLAGIUDÌA

Lemon-marinatedartichokes

FRITELLEDIHANNUKAH Hannukahricefritters

CONCERT programme

A Hannukah celebration of Rossi's 'The Songs of Solomon' set alongside other contemporary vernacular psalm settings from across Europe.

Running time c. 2 hours including an interval

Vocal&Instrumental

Barechu (opening prayer)

Salomone Rossi

Psalm 137

Thomas Campion, Salomone Rossi

Psalm 128

Salomone Rossi, Heinrich Schütz

Adon olam

Salomone Rossi

Psalm 146

John Farmer, Salomone Rossi

Psalm 8

Thomas Ravenscroft, Salomone Rossi

Psalm 100

William Byrd, Heinrich Schütz, Salomone Rossi

Psalm 112

Giovanni Gastoldi, Francesco Cavalli

Psalm 80

Henry Purcell, Salomone Rossi

Hashkivenuh adonai (closing prayer)

Salomone Rossi

Instrumental

Selection of sinfonias à 3

Salomone Rossi

Canzona alla francese à 4, ‘La Gonzaga’

Amante Franzoni

ST.JOHN'SSMITHSQUARE

Vache Baroque is proud to count among its network of singers the finest vocalists of Baroque-era music in the UK. From English, Italian, and French opera, to cantata, solo song, and madrigal repertory, artistic director Jonathan

MUSICIANS MUSICIANS LaVaghezza

VacheBaroquesingers

Darbourne invites singers whose talents match the demands of our programmes For the intimate dinner programme, five leading consort singers and a chitarrone/Baroque guitar player will perform, joined by a further three singers and La Vaghezza for the full concert programme

La Vaghezza are an award-winning trio sonata ensemble playing music from the 17th and early 18th Centuries, with a special interest in the unpredictability, extravagance, originality and freedom found in 17th-century Italian music.

Their debut CD 'Sculpting the Fabric' (2021) features three instrumental movements by Rossi.

"Played... sensually, racingly, poignantly" ★★★★★ Klassik

"Enviable instrumental quality... a total freedom in tone" ★★★★★ On.Mag

"Keeps the listener continuously on the edge of their seat. A great debut album" ★★★★★ Rondo

productions

“INGENIOUS STAGECRAFT AND EXPERT MUSICIANSHIP”

★★★★TheStage2021

“NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR”

OperaNow2022

Vache Baroque produces bold and innovative projects inspired by the gripping drama of Baroque-era music, dance, and theatre. Formed in 2020, the organisation has enjoyed critical acclaim for a number of operas and multi-artform events (street-style dance, electronics, jazz, sculpture, poetry, devised theatre) both at The Vache in Buckinghamshire and in London.

Vache Baroque's mission is to introduce new audiences and artists to the beauty and thrill of the genre, presenting modern interpretations of old stories which often accent issues faced by marginalised communities. Rossi's Songs of Solomon perfectly encapsulates the intertwining of cultures that Vache Baroque champions, and we are thrilled to spotlight his music throughout this celebratory project.