La Serenissima gave three outstanding concerts with choir, orchestra and soloists in Venice for Martin Randall Travel’s Vivaldi in Venice festival. Works performed included the other Gloria (RV639 & 588) and Beatus Vir (RV795), opera Teuzzone and The Four Seasons. Soloists included sopranos Lucy Crowe & Elizabeth Karani, mezzo sopranos Rowan Hellier & Renata Pokupic, contralto Hilary Summers, tenor Charles Daniels and bass-baritone Ashley Riches. The performances were the culmination of some very exciting rehearsal sessions in London and months of editing and research (into the choral and operatic works in particular) by Artistic Director Adrian Chandler. The group performed at Sala Apollinea (Teatro La Fenice),  Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Derelitti known as Ospedaletto (a venue with no electricity, severely damaged by fire and water ingress) and Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The group gave some staggering performances in spite of tropical heat inside La Fenice and freezing temperatures combined with damp at the other two historic venues. Other performers in the festival included Italian colleagues Il Giardino Armonico (Giovanni Antonini) and Modo Antiquo (Federico Maria Sardelli).

Photograph taken by principal trumpet player Simon Munday at Santa Maria dei Derelitti