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"Secret Pages" for theorbo
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Secret Pages is a set of antique and newly composed music for theorbo – an instrument similar to a lute – performed by Italian early music virtuoso, Stefano Maiorana. In Secret Pages the sequence of the pieces creates an atmospheric soundscape evoking – with the faintest of brushstrokes – the hallucinatory beauty of Venice. The musical sequence interleaves 20 works by two composers with profound connections to Venice: Johann Hieronymus Kapsberger (c1580-1651), who spent his formative years in the ‘serene republic’, and the Venetian Claudio Ambrosini (b1948).
Exploiting the soft resonance of the theorbo, Kapsberger’s pieces are at once intimate and sonorous: improvisatory in spirit, they roam and ruminate and dance by turns. Each one flows like liquid into Ambrosini’s experimental soundworld, the starting point for which was imagining the ‘secret notebooks’ of Kapsberger – fictional pages of daringly exploratory music. From those imagined sketches, Ambrosini takes Baroque themes and motifs, arabesques and embellishments and, mingling them with the elemental sounds of Venice, fragments and reworks them as sonic memories. The musical stream of consciousness is articulated by soundscape recordings that fleetingly capture the essence of Venice: the lapping and crashing of waves, chiming bells and cawing gulls, moored ships and bobbing gondolas, all broadcasted in an immersive surround audio setup of custom made wood resonators.
Experience the rich musical heritage of Venice through a captivating concert program featuring works by Hyeronimus Kapsberger and contemporary composer Claudio Ambrosini, performed by virtuoso theorbo player Stefano Maiorana. The music for solo theorbo, drawn from lesser-known manuscripts from the 17th century, resonates with modern compositions, creating a dynamic dialogue between past and present. Immerse yourself in the sounds of Venice, from the Baroque era to the bustling streets of today, as we celebrate the city's enduring musical legacy. In this unique journey through time, where the innovative creativity of both composers and the virtuosity of Stefano Maiorana shine brightly, emerges Venice's bold exploration of musical expression across the centuries. With reproduced sounds of the streets and canals, this concert provides a fascinating glimpse into Venice's musical history, alternating between toccatas, arias, and dances, celebrating the past, present, and potentially the future of this city.
Stefano Maiorana was born in Rome where he lives. After studying classical guitar and lute at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, he took advanced courses in theorbo and baroque guitar with Paul O’Dette. He graduated in Architecture, cultivating a strong interest in the interactions between music and the other arts. His research ranges from early to contemporary music and is sustained by rigorous attention to historical performance practice.
He has held concerts as soloist and continuo player in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Swiss, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Mongolia and in 2017 he was invited as soloist by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra to perform in the “Spanish Baroque” tour in Australia. He also played premieres by composers Ambrosini, Serrano, Elgh as soloist, in ensemble and in duo with the guitarist Magnus Andersson.
Stefano is Professor of Lute and early plucked instruments at the Briccialdi Conservatory in Italy, where he is the head of the Early Music Department.
