AAM Concerts old

Martin Randall Travel presents a sumptuous festival celebrating the music of Monteverdi in the city which was his creative home for half his life. Between 12-17 November 2026, experience six performances by some of the world's leading interpreters: Academy of Ancient Music, I Fagiolini, Concerto Italiano and Odhecaton, with soloists including Anna Dennis, Ed Lyon, Matthew Long and Nicholas Mulroy.

Performances take place in private palaces, glorious churches and lavishly decorated scuole where Tintoretto and Titian provide sublime backdrops. The festival also includes daily talks by leading early music expert Professor John Bryan plus optional art historical and architectural walks and visits to explore the city.

Academy of Ancient Music gives a concert performance of Monteverdi's shockingly amoral opera L’incoronazione di Poppea on 13 November. This tale of the Emperor Nero's ruthless quest to marry his mistress Poppea is an intense drama of emotional and political brutality, presenting realistically self-obsessed people in situations motivated by sexual lust and political avarice. Featuring Anna Dennis (Poppea) and Ed Lyon (Nero), it will be performed in the spectacular Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista which is not generally open to the public.

This is followed on 14 November by a rather more chivalrous take on humanity: Songs of Love and War, two performances of madrigals from Monteverdi's Book VIII contrasting the heroism of battle and the pathos of unrequited love. Anna Dennis (soprano) and Ed Lyon (tenor) are the soloists at the Ateneo Veneto, whose main hall is decorated with paintings by Veronese and Palma Il Giovane.

Schedule:

Friday 13 November, 3.30pm
L'incoronazione di Poppea
See cast list below.

Saturday 14 November, 11.30am and 2.30pm
Songs of Love and War
Soloists: Anna Dennis (soprano), Ed Lyon (tenor), Danni O'Neill (soprano), Will Prior (alto), Rory Carver (tenor), Rob Macdonald (bass)