Pier Francesco Caletti Bruni 'Francesco Cavalli' lived in Venice under the protection of the nobleman Federigo Cavalli, whose surname he adopted in gratitude. The musician dedicated his life as a composer to two musical forms: music theatre, for which he was appreciated throughout Europe and the sacred repertoire. Following his maestro Monteverdi, he composed sacred music in the Concertato style for double choir until near the end of his life when he published the three Vespers, among which the Vespers of the cinque Laudate ad uso della Cappella di S. Marco stands out as a work in its own class.The distinguishing feature of this composition is to be found in a new, simpler and realer liturgical vision which contrasts with the works in Monteverdian style. In the Vespero delli cinque Laudate, Francesco Cavalli abandons the elements of antique style which had often made use of scoring in dialogue between the two choirs with occasional interventions of solo parts integrated by the instrumental ensemble. Returning to a mode of performance that was customary in the late 16th century and early baroque, allowing a degree of liberty in the choice of the instrumental groups that accompanied the vocal performance, we have deliberately chosen a particular combination made up only of wind instruments, which integrate better in terms of the ”vocal” expression which wind instruments can offer.

Bruno Gini has been a dedicated teacher in various organisations and music schools for several years now. In 1986 he founded the C. Monteverdi Choir of Crema; from 1989 to 1993 he was assistant conductor of the Voci Bianche chorus at La Scala in Milan. Currently he teaches singing and choral teaching methods at the children’s choir school of La Scala.