Looking back

Building on the Cozzolani project, our 2025 student consort turned to the madrigals of Claudio Monteverdi. Student singers of all voice types applied in autumn 2024, and invited applicants joined Christopher Bucknall and Miriam Allan for an open workshop day before parts were allocated.

Coached by Miriam and Christopher, with expert tuition from an Italian vocal coach, the students sang alongside Miriam and a continuo group of IT&T players. Monteverdi's Laboratory was performed at the Keble Early Music Festival on Friday 28 February 2025, tracing the evolution of vocal music from Renaissance polyphony to the dramatic style that grew into opera as we know it today.