We are excited to be performing the Monteverdi Vespers 1610 at our London home, Christ Church, Spitalfields on Thursday 11 November and as part of the Bath Mozartfest on Saturday 13 November. Tickets for Christ Church will be available in early September (further details will become available soon), however, we are delighted to announce that tickets for the Bath Mozartfest concert will be on sale from Monday 02 August.

Monteverdi Vespers, Bath Mozartfest

Monteverdi Vespers 1610
13 Nov | 7.30 pm 
Abbey | Bath Mozartfest 

£30 | £24 | £18 | £14 | £10

Tickets can be bought online at www.bathmozartfest.org.uk or through the box office on 01225 463 362.

Tickets on sale from 2 August 2010. All top price tickets have already sold in priority booking sales so we suggest you book early to avoid disappointment. 

For details about all our forthcoming concerts visit www.gabrieli.com/concerts. Tickets for our concert on 11 November at Christ Church, Spitalfields are not yet on sale.

Click here for more details about the concert

For a glimpse of what to expect...

See photos and relive some special moments through the experiences of musicians who took part in the Monteverdi Vespers 1610 France tour in July 2010.

“Four concerts in four days; the first three in the searing heat of Provence and the final one high in the stunning alpine scenery and refreshing coolness of the Haute Savoie. Venue sizes varied markedly from a small 12th century chapel in hilltop Menerbes (built 400 years before Monteverdi presented his Vespers collection!) and the 19th century hillside church of Montsapey to the moderately large Cathedral of St Theodorit in Uzes sporting a magnificent “tour fenestrelle” bell tower, the only surviving part of the previous medieval structure, and the large, cooler spaces of St Sauveur in Aix, packed out with festival-goers.

"Hotels were variable also, from a luxuriously restored townhouse with pool that had been part of the Duchy buildings in Uzes to a new-build apartment complex in Aix that lacked air conditioning! Indeed unpredictability was a key note throughout not least for the two countertenors who had boldly agreed to also take on the duets usually performed by two soprani. They were concerned that four successive “shows” might be a strain but proved well up to the task. The first performance in Menerbes was the hottest anyone could recall – soaking scores; clothes in dire need of laundering."

"Musically all four concerts maintained an extremely high standard; the main challenge came from having to change the choreography nightly to fit each new performance space. The French showed their appreciation and flair for hosting with three post-concert receptions, one challenging Paul’s French in a broadcast Q & A session. A thoroughly enjoyable tour and vindication for performing this magnum opus with such small forces.” Richard Savage, singer (bass)

“This music is some of the most powerful that I have the privilege of playing - from Charles Daniels' opening invocation 'Deus in adjutorium meum intende' to the hushed hymn to the Virgin at the close, there is not a harmony that ever fails to excite or move. Amongst all that glory, I had the uncertainty of a selection of French chamber organs, some with keys that refused to come up after being played, some voiced so lightly that they seemed to play when I breathed on them, and one whose keyboard undulated nearly as much as the surrounding countryside. After the final concert, in Montsapey, we were greeted outside the tiny mountain-top chapel with cakes, wine and an unforgettable view of the evening light flooding the valley below. An honour to have been there.” Jan Waterfield, organist/ harpsichordist

“Having previously performed Vespers wrapped in as many layers as possible in Chiesa del Redentore, Venice, July’s tour was somewhat higher octane – both in terms of temperature and also as I and my colleague Mark Chambers were creating the Gabrieli’s first entirely male-voice renditions of this fantastic piece. More top Fs and Gs than either of us has ever sung in just a week with wonderfully appreciative (or just stunned!) audiences made for a memorable, if just a bit tiring, run of four performances. Looking forward to singing just alto parts with the group at La Chaise Dieu in August.” David Allsopp, singer (alto)

“The Monteverdi Vespers offers a particular set of challenges to the cellist; a different instrument, a different bow hold and a reduction to the role of spectator for large periods of time. Used to playing every note of every piece, this provides a cellist with a curious insight into the life of a brass player (other insights can, of course, be sought later in the bar...).

Fortunately the recent tour of Provence and, briefly, the Alps, provided the inspiration to overcome these difficulties. Coupled with idyllic venues (not least the mountainside village of Montsapey, requiring our coach to negotiate a fearsome road), the power of the Gabrieli Consort's singing ensured that there was never any danger of a loss of concentration. Occasionally we are fortunate enough to take part in a performance that we will never forget; Charles Daniel's astonishing declamation of "Audi, coelum" has now been added to these select memories.” Christopher Suckling, cellist/ bass violinist

© All photographs taken by Christopher Suckling.