In 1655, the Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi dedicated a collection of sacred motets to the Tyrolean Land Princess Anna de' Medici, her only printed opus of sacred music. Strozzi likely hoped for a position at the Innsbruck court, which under Ferdinand Karl and Anna de' Medici became a magnet for Europe's musical elite. The appointment did not materialize, but Anna sent a golden casket and a necklace with rubies as a thank-you to Venice. Strozzi's compositions are truly a princely gift: expressive solo sacred music of the highest quality by a composer who was also a singer and thus knew how to fully exploit the potential of combining the singing voice and figured bass. If Barbara Strozzi had come to Innsbruck, she would have met one of her influential teachers here, the opera composer Antonio Cesti.

BONUS: 5:30 PM tour of the Marian oratory in the Court Church with a short concert

Further information on the event series “Innsbruck Court Music”

Pricing information:

Pricing information at https://www.tiroler-landesmuseen.at/termin/innsbrucker-hofmusik-04-sacri-musicali-affetti-andachtsmusik-fuer-die-tiroler-landesfuerstin-anna-de-medici-von-barbara-strozzi/?datum=202304281900

Image credit(s): Photo: TLM /Klemens Weisleitner, Klemens Weisleitner, Reinhold Sigl