In anticipation of the fourth centenary of the birth of its illustrious fellow townsman, which will fall in August 2026, the Bergamasque town has, since October 2022, spearheaded an engaging and inspiring musical journey, creating a cultural itinerary unlike any other: the international music festival “Musica Mirabilis,” dedicated entirely to the great composer

This festival, promoted by the Municipality of Clusone in partnership with PromoSerio and the Nova Ars Cantandi vocal and instrumental ensemble and under the artistic direction of Giovanni Acciai and Ivana Valotti, is defined by its solemn aim to honour Giovanni Legrenzi’s invaluable musical legacy—rarely performed in contemporary times—while simultaneously fostering a comprehensive exploration of his work through concerts, historical insights, and cultural initiatives, all supported by strong public engagement as evidenced by past editions. Accordingly, it also seeks to achieve specific methodological objectives, presenting itself as a collaborative project built on three essential pillars: the active involvement of the Clusone community, the pursuit of excellence, and the aspiration to generate well-being and development opportunities for the local area.

From this arises the irresistible need to promote knowledge of—and access to—early music, even among non-specialists, pairing a top-level musical program with mediation and listening-education activities. It also aims to showcase the musical legacy inherited from Legrenzi as a defining element of Clusone’s cultural identity and to highlight the town’s historically and architecturally significant venues that host the concerts. At the same time, it seeks to strengthen the local community’s sense of belonging and responsibility toward its history and cultural achievements, thereby fostering civic pride and generating physical, economic, and social well-being.

It becomes clear, then, that the festival is an unmissable opportunity to experience Giovanni Legrenzi’s work up close and in its entirety: every program draws exclusively on the great Clusonese master’s repertoire, and all performances are meticulously rendered on period instruments. This makes it a unique and rare chance to hear music imbued with intense expressivity, delicate harmonies, and radiant melodies capable of leaving an indelible mark on listeners. In fact, the festival retraces Legrenzi’s complete instrumental and vocal oeuvre, presenting pieces he composed during his tenure as maestro di cappella in Bergamo, Ferrara, and, finally, Venice.

This year the festival will open on August 14, on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary—patron saint of Clusone—with the solemn Vespers to the Blessed Virgin by Giovanni Legrenzi. These will be performed in the town’s magnificent cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, by the Nova Ars Cantandi vocal and instrumental ensemble, conducted by Giovanni Acciai, with Ivana Valotti at the organ.

Fifteen days later, on August 30, the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise will host another event of great historical and musicological importance: the first contemporary performance of Giovanni Legrenzi’s two-part oratorio for four voices and basso continuo, La vendita del cuore umano. The vocal soloists—Alessandro Carmignani, Enrico Torre, Gianluca Ferrarini, and Marcello Vargetto of Nova Ars Cantandi—will be joined by Ivana Valotti on organ and harpsichord, Mauro Pinciaroli on lute and theorbo, and Marco Frezzato on cello for the basso continuo, all under the direction of Giovanni Acciai. Renowned writer and music critic Sandro Cappelletto will offer a dramaturgical interpretation of the poetry by Pier Matteo Petrucci, the oratorio’s librettist.

Another musical rarity by Legrenzi will be featured at the October 11 concert, when the Cappella Musicale of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo, conducted by Cristian Gentilini, presents the complete performance of Giovanni Legrenzi’s Missa Lauretana quinque vocibus (“Lauretana Mass for Five Voices”) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. Composed in 1689, a year before his death, this Mass was dedicated by the Clusonese master to the Virgin of Loreto. It serves as an emblematic example of Legrenzi’s contrapuntal mastery within the ancient ecclesiastical style, a perfect testament to his art cultivated under the influence of the stylus gravis epitomized by Palestrina.

Again, in the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise, the ensembles Sezione aurea under Luca Giardini (September 20) and Les Talens Lyriques under Christophe Rousset (October 18) will offer a florilegium of sonatas, songs, canzonettas, and arias for solo voice and instruments drawn from Legrenzi’s most significant collections and musical dramas, alongside works by his contemporaries.

Between these two concert events, the rehearsals will take place for the two international competitions in Baroque singing (from September 23 to 27) and for instrumental ensembles (from October 21 to 25), which Musica Mirabilis has sponsored. Both competitions are designed to spread Legrenzi’s music worldwide, to promote emerging ensembles of instrumentalists and singers at an international level, and to celebrate the collective enthusiasm and shared aspirations born of young musicians’ common passion for Giovanni Legrenzi’s work. At the end of each competition session, the contestants judged winners by their respective juries will perform a concert in the Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise: on September 27 for the Baroque singing competition and on October 25 for the one dedicated to instrumental ensembles.

Andrea Bedetti

Music Mirabilis 2025 Program

Clusone, August 14 | 8:30 PM 

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta 

Giovanni Legrenzi, Vespers for the Blessed Virgin (first contemporary performance) 

Collegium vocale et instrumentale “Nova Ars Cantandi” – Ivana Valotti, organ – Giovanni Acciai, conductor 

Clusone, August 30 | 8:30 PM 

Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise 

Giovanni Legrenzi, The Sale of the Human Heart – oratorio in two parts for four voices and basso continuo (first contemporary performance) 

Dramaturgical interpretation by Sandro Cappelletto 

Collegium vocale “Nova Ars Cantandi” – Marco Frezzato, cello – Mauro Pinciaroli, lute and theorbo – Ivana Valotti, organ and harpsichord – Giovanni Acciai, conductor 

Clusone, September 20 | 8:30 PM 

Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise 

Ardor and Melancholy: Giovanni Legrenzi’s “La Cetra” 

Ensemble Sezione aurea – Luca Giardini, violin and conductor 

Clusone, September 23–27 

First International Giovanni Legrenzi Chamber Vocal Music Competition 

Preliminary and final rounds 

Clusone, September 27 | 8:30 PM 

Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise 

First International Giovanni Legrenzi Chamber Vocal Music Competition 

Awards ceremony and winners’ concert 

Clusone, October 4 | 8:30 PM 

Palazzo Marinoni Barca, Legrenzi Hall 

Lecture: “Giovanni Legrenzi in Ferrara and Venice” – Giovanni Acciai, speaker 

Clusone, October 11 | 8:30 PM 

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta 

Giovanni Legrenzi, Missa “Lauretana” quinque vocibus (Venice, 1689) 

Cappella Musicale of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Bergamo – Cristian Gentilini, conductor 

Clusone, October 18 | 8:30 PM 

Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise 

The Forgotten Genius of Giovanni Legrenzi 

Les Talens Lyriques – Christophe Rousset, harpsichord and conductor 

Clusone, October 21–25 

First International Giovanni Legrenzi Instrumental Ensemble Competition 

Clusone, October 25 | 8:30 PM 

Church of the Blessed Virgin of Paradise 

First International Giovanni Legrenzi Instrumental Ensemble Competition 

Awards ceremony and winners’ concert 

For more information: 

Website: https://www.visitclusone.it/musica-mirabilis/

Email: [email protected]