COMING EVENTS

Love’s Labyrinth:  Venetian love letters

Sumptuous songs and madrigals by two supreme Venetian composers of their day: Barbara Strozzi and Claudio Monteverdi

Friday 26 June 2026

St Denis's Church, Llanishen, Monmouthshire NP16 6QS - 7.30pm

Writing at the turn of the C17th, these were both pioneers of a new dramatic style that can still pack a punch today!

Barbara Strozzi’s music is quite rightly becoming better known. Renowned for its arresting and emotional style, it is well suited to expressing the joys and trials of lovers. Interestingly, Strozzi had more works published in her lifetime than her more illustrious contemporary, Monteverdi.

Pieces from Monteverdi's extraordinary books of madrigals provide the complementary highlight in our programme. Their bold use of dissonance and word-painting was groundbreaking and paved the way for many important developments in music history.

Also contributing much variety to proceedings we welcome soprano Maisie O'Shea, a specialist in this early baroque style and an avid advocate of overlooked woman composers. She brings that all-important element of vocal display and dramatic intensity that is so much a feature of this repertoire.
So do come and be transported to the delights and indulgent world of Italian romance!

Tickets £15, refreshments available.

Love’s Labyrinth:  Venetian love letters

Sumptuous songs and madrigals by two supreme Venetian composers of their day: Barbara Strozzi and Claudio Monteverdi

Saturday 4 July 2026

St Peter's Church, Llanwenarth Citra NP7 7EP - 7.00pm

With soprano Maisie O'Shea

Writing at the turn of the C17th, Barbara Strozzi and Claudio Monteverdi were both pioneers of a new dramatic style that can still pack a punch today.

Strozzi had more works published in her lifetime than her more illustrious contemporary, Monteverdi. In modern times, her music is quite rightly becoming better known. Renowned for its arresting and emotional style, it is well suited to expressing the joys and trials of lovers.

Pieces from Monteverdi's extraordinary books of madrigals provide the complementary highlight in our programme. Their bold use of dissonance and word-painting was groundbreaking and paved the way for many important developments in music history. 
Also contributing much variety to proceedings we welcome soprano Maisie O'Shea, a specialist in this early baroque style and an avid advocate of overlooked woman composers. She brings that all-important element of vocal display and dramatic intensity that is so much a feature of this repertoire.
So do come and be transported to the delights and indulgent world of Italian romance!
Tickets £17.50 (including refreshments).