Polyhymnia

The German Ensemble Polyharmonique, performing in Prague for the very first time, will be “kissed” by the Muse of Hymn Singing and Choral Lyrics, Polyhymnia, under the vaults of the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Slavic Saints (the Emmaus Monastery). The other muse of the evening will undoubtedly be Italian music, which, in several waves, inspired the musical culture of the 17th century in the rest of Europe. The spiritual atmosphere of the Emmaus Monastery will draw the audience into the programme with its attractive dramaturgy and direct confrontation of Italian models with their echoes in Protestant Germany.

Heinrich Schütz, the most important pre-Bachian German composer, studied in Venice with Giovanni Gabrieli and Claudio Monteverdi, who influenced him greatly. Although his Transalpine colleagues and followers never visited Italy, they completely adopted its musical styles. The captivating beauty of their spiritual concertos, motets and madrigals will grace the ceremonial opening of the 24th edition of the Summer Festivities of Early Music.