Casanova al Levante

The concert highlights the cosmopolitan profile of Giacomo Casanova through the performance of music in vogue at the time of his travels in Eastern Europe and to Constantinople, both of Venetian and Ottoman derivation, with instruments belonging to both musical traditions. Indeed, among the writings left behind by various ambassadors of the time, we find pieces of music transcribed according to Western criteria, with instru-mental and vocal compositions that might be described as “Turkish-lean-ing. Even the musical instruments used combine the influence of Eastern culture and the ‘Orientalisation’ of the Western instrumental tradition. This is the case of the viola d’amore, later adopted in the Ottoman world under the name sine keman.

Performers: Stefano Albarello (conducting, adnún, baroque guitar), Peppe Frana (lavta lutes and tanbür), Giovanni De Zorzi (ney flute) and Gianfranco Russo (viola d’amore)