San Giovanni Battista

About the Event

San Giovanni Battista is a rarely performed sacred opera, composed by Alessandro Stradella for the Confraternity of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini in Rome based on St. Mark's story of Florence's patron saint.

The tale of John the Baptist, Salome and Herod is related through a flowing sequence of arias and accompanied recitative — with moments of astonishing lyricism and reflection for such a dramatic subject. The oratorio will be presented by i Buontalenti in two exclusively staged performances by some of Florence's most talented baroque singers and musicians.

The oratorio will be the highlight of a new ten day arts festival dedicated to the people of Florence to celebrate the feast day of San Giovanni on 24th June culminating in a fireworks display visible along the river. There will be over twenty exhibitions of antiquarian and contemporary art in the galleries of Via Maggio and a one‐day conference at the British Institute of Florence.

San Giovanni  — Francesco Ghelardini, counter‐tenor
Salome  — Chiara Chisu, soprano
Herod  — Gabriele Lombardi, baritone

Jean‐Marie Quint, baroque violoncello
Robin Walker, music director & harpsichordist
John Hoenig, producer & director

Proceeds from these events will benefit the music fund of St Mark's English Church, Florence.