Mercurio
Testolin, Catrani, RossoPorpora

Walter Testolin and Laura Catrani, narrating voices

RossoPorpora Ensemble

Cristina Fanelli, soprano

Dario Carpanese, harpsichord

Memories of Claudio Monteverdi and Laura Peperara, Composed by Others

A musical narration by Walter Testolin with RossoPorpora Ensemble

30' | Admission included with museum ticket

In the Sala dei Fiumi at the Palazzo Ducale, history comes to life in a musical narration dedicated to an extraordinary and almost forgotten figure: Laura Peperara. Born in Mantua in 1563 to Vincenzo Peperara, a gentleman at the court of Guglielmo Gonzaga, she received a solid literary and musical education from an early age.

She later became one of the protagonists of one of the most fascinating phenomena of the Renaissance: the Concerto Segreto at the court of Alfonso II d'Este in Ferrara, an exclusively female ensemble composed of the harpist Laura Peperara, the lutenist Anna Guarini, and the viol player Livia d'Arco. The ensemble performed daily in the private chambers of Duchess Margherita Gonzaga before a select circle of guests. The trio’s fame spread throughout Italy, inspiring composers such as Claudio Monteverdi and Girolamo Frescobaldi to write music for these exceptional performers, who established themselves in the musical life of the time through grace and rare talent.

Today, this legacy resounds once again in the most fitting setting. Bringing this remarkable figure back into the light are some of the finest artists of the Renaissance repertoire: Walter Testolin and Laura Catrani will guide us through the story alongside the performance by RossoPorpora Ensemble.

Text by Giada De Sio