Free Chamber Concert in the Badia Fiorentina

The Badia Fiorentina (via del Proconsolo), originally founded in 978 in dedication to the Virgin Mary, is a beautiful abbey which holds the preserved Cloister of the Oranges, a fresco cycle of scenes from the life of St. Benedict, in addition to an altarpiece painted by Filippino Lippi. The music of Bohemian-Austrian composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz (1644-1704) will fill the space on Saturday, June 10 at 9 pm with an hour of his music dedicated to the Festa di Pentacoste. The association of “Musica Ricercata” will be presenting five of Biber’s sonatas, “Le Sonate De Mysteriis Mariae,” performed by violinist Michael Stüve and organist James Gray.

Hailing from Germany, Michael Stüve has dedicated his career to researching the rich tradition of Florentine music. “Music Ricercata” was born out of his passion for presenting European music from Hellenistic to Baroque periods to modern audiences. Stüve has also shared his work for audiences in Russia and Japan, in international festivals performing his work for “Musica Ricerata.” James Gray, a native of England, shares Stüve’s passion for the history of Florence’s music scene. He is particularly interested in Italian “dolce stil nuovo,” which means “sweet new style.” Gray has performed in beautiful venues in Florence, such as the Palazzo Pitti, and abroad as well.

The following are the titles of the sonatas which will be performed on Saturday: #11, entitled “Gesu risorge da morte,” #12, “Gesu ascende al cielo,” #13, “Lo Spirito Santo discende su Maria e gli apostoli,” sonata number fourteen, “Maria assunta in cielo,” and #15, “Maria è coronata regina.”