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2022 Florence Choral Course: A Remarkable Week
This July saw the success of our first FLORENCE CHORAL COURSE as singers from all over the world came to the Medici Archive Project to share their passion for choral music, and to do so in the context of the history and culture of Renaissance Italy in which it so richly flourished. An intense week of daily rehearsals interspersed with: guided tours of major historical monuments including the Duomo, Baptistry, Santa Croce and San Miniato; a private tour of the Archives of Santa Maria Novella; Masterclasses by Dame Emma Kirkby (award winning recording artist) and Maestro Massimo Palombella (former Director of the Sistine Chapel Papal Choir/newly appointed Director of Milan Cathedral Choir); lectures in archival study, the life of Cosimo I de’ Medici (Dr Alessio Assonitis), sacred architecture (Dr Joanne Allen) and Gregorian notation (Dr Davide Baldi Bellini); performances in the private Sala delle Muse (where the first ever opera was performed), Palazzo Corsini and Santissima Annunziata; and 38 singing lessons… was all brought to a magnificent conclusion with sung high mass in the historic Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, attended by HRH Queen Beatrix, former Queen of the Netherlands.
Emboldened by the commitment, enthusiasm and excellence of this group of talented young singers, we are pleased to announce that our next FLORENCE CHORAL COURSE will take place on 2-8 JANUARY 2023 (applications will open from the 1 September 2022).