The Three Giovannis
Donald Macleod examines how the dominance of the Venetian School faded and explores the music of 3 different men called Giovanni, all employed by St Mark鈥檚 at around this time.
By the beginning of the 16th century, Venice was in commercial decline, and the financial clout of the first and longest-lived of the European Empires was fading. However, just as the Republic鈥檚 political power was starting to ebb, artistic and cultural life began to flourish as never before. Venice became the centre of the cultural world. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod explores this extraordinary period when music flourished throughout Venice鈥檚 streets and in the churches, palaces and public buildings which had sprung up all across the city, and the composers whose work came to define the age 鈥� the Venetian School.
In Friday鈥檚 show, Donald explores the final years of dominance for the Venetian School and the music of the 3 different men called Giovanni employed by St Mark鈥檚 at this time: Giovanni Gabrieli, Giovanni Bassano and Giovanni Croce. He also sees how the myth of Venice herself played an important role in the Republic鈥檚 musical scene, and discovers how a new Pope in Rome caused a rift with Venice and saw the music standards of the most serene Republic begin to decline.
Giovanni Gabrieli
Sonata XX a 22
Taverner Players
Andrew Parrott, conductor
Giovanni Croce
Quaeramus cum pastoribus
Voces Suaves
Concerto Scirocco
Giulia Genini, director
Giovanni Bassano
Tota pulchra es
La Guilde des Mercenaires
Adrien Mabire, director
Giovanni Gabrieli
Kyrie
Ex Cathedra
His Majesty鈥檚 Sagbutts and Cornetts
Concerto Palatino
Jeffrey Skidmore, director
Giovanni Gabrieli
O quam suavis
London Oratory Schola Cantorum
Charles Cole, director
Giulio Cesare Martinengo
Regum Mundi
Ensemble Prima Toni
Nicola Lamon, director
Giovanni Gabrieli
Litaniae Beatae Mariae Virginis (a 8), C63
Choir of King鈥檚 College Cambridge
Stephen Cleonbury, director
On radio
More episodes
Previous
Next
You are at the last episode
Broadcast
- Fri 9 Oct 2026 16:00麻豆社 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.