Venice 1721
It is the end of January and preparations are under way for a choral competition. Renowned choirs from all over Europe are to compete in memory of Claudio Monteverdi, the inventor of opera, who died in Venice in 1643.
The lagoon bathes in an atmosphere of spring delighting the crowds and a feeling of joy and good humour pervades the scene heralding the carnival now only weeks away.
Venetian choirs have worked all year in preparation for the competition in the hope of winning the prestigious event. The young girls who have been educated to the very highest level in music and whose reputed excellence is indisputable, nevertheless rehearse tirelessly; there is not a balcony or parlour that has not been transformed into a concert hall.
One morning Antonio Vivaldi, on his way to the San Angelo theatre, was drawn to the sound of laughter and music from a palace at the edge of the canal. The following day the violin master identified the exact source of the music, exquisite in its lightness and turn of phrase, and was so enchanted that he imagined angels must live in the palace. As it was impossible to gain entry into the palace, he stood beneath its windows in order to delight in the charming melodies.
The day of the concert arrived and he had no difficulty recognizing the choir, led by a pretty young girl wearing a bunch of grenadines on her ear and who kept time with such grace. The maestro knew the music by heart, but what struck him most was the surprising freshness of the perfume that the young musicians wore.
The music and the perfume were in such perfect harmony that the jury awarded first prize to the girls and from that day on they were known as the Princesses of Venice. A few weeks later, Vivaldi could still conjure up in his memory that blend of orange blossom, blackcurrant and raspberry and he began at once to compose his most famous of concertos, beginning with Spring.
Also inspired by these events was the painter Pietro-Longhi whose canvas entitled “Concertino” can be admired at the Gallerie dell’Accademia. However, to relive the carefree joy of this era, we must allow ourselves to be led with our eyes shut by that unique perfume worn by the Venetian princesses.
The house of Savoy exists to this day and the title Prince and Princess of Piemont and Venice lives on...
