WillTravel

I've read that the costumed performers in Venice are not as good as the performers who wear suits and ties. Is this accurate? The SelectItaly.com site they list a concert at Palazzo Papafava on 12/30 by Le Venexiane, with a note that this is a costumed performance. The music featured is by Vivaldi, Galuppi, Corelli, and Telemann. Any ideas if this is worth the $34 USD price? Is there any need to buy the ticket in advance?

ben_haines_london

As in Vienna, these are worth the money if you do not care much about the quality of playing, but like the spectacle of the costumes. In much the same way, concerts by candlelight in London are for tourists, not for people who like good music. In both cities, the concerts are put together by musicians who have no booking that evening. In London they cost something like normal prices, but in Vienna twice normal prices.

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Peggyann

I've been to one of the costumed type concerts once and to the non costumed type about four different times. If you are interested in a serious musical treat, I recommend the concerts given by the group called "Interpreti Veneziani" which performs nightly at the Chiesa San Vidal. This lovely setting is just before the Accademia Bridge (on the San Marco side of the Grand Canal) You can stop by for tickets during the day (they accept credit cards) or your hotel may be able to issue tickets to you. www.interpretiveneziani.com
for info on what the upcoming program will be. If the cellist named Davide Amadio is in town, you will be in for a treat! Sometimes I have missed him because he is out of the country recording CD's. It is a fantastic experience to hear this music in a small venue, no mikes. Have a wonmderful time in Venice. PS. I don't think they wear jackets and ties, but simple black shirts and slacks.

Christina

I think that many of these tourist-type concerts (whether in costume or not) certainly have adequate players, as so many compenent musicians are turned out of conservatories today and it's hard to make a living at it. However, I don't know of any serious professional musician who would don a costume to play in one of those things (I mean a musician who was employed by an orchestra and/or teaching). These concerts are usually a lot more expensive than some at churches, etc., with as good musicians.

I don't go to any of those tourist concerts myself, but it's not usually because of the playing, but because of the hackneyed repertoire that is deliberately chosen to appeal to those who don't like or listen to classical music very much and is thus as "inoffensive" as possible. This means Vivaldi, Ein Klein Nachtmusik, Ave Maria by Schubert, Corelli and (yech) Telemann, etc. I think if you are going to offer tourist concerts, it should at least be by local native composers. They offer tourist concerts of the same repertoire (Vivaldi's Four Seasons, etc) in Prague as they do in Paris as in Italy.

Really, the Four Seasons and Ein Klein Nachtmusik are pleasant pieces, but I think I could die happily if I never heard them again as I probably have heard them at least 100 times or more throughout my life. Why does no one play something from Vivaldi's opus L'Estro Harmonico, for example.

NYCFoodSnob

Interpreti Veneziani and Accademia di San Rocco are considered the two best ensembles amongst musical professionals in Venice for Baroque music (with ASR leading in International prestige). Any other ensemble pretty much employs musicians who couldn't get cast with either of these two.

That's not to say you won't find others enjoyable (costumed or not). Music, like food, is much like beauty...the experience eventually falls on the eyes and ears of the beholder.

ps Davide Amadio is a delight.

WillTravel

I went to the InterpretiVeneziani.com web site and I see their tickets cost 22 Euros, which is a good price if they are as good as reputed. I will be there Dec 27-31. Should I purchase the tickets now or am I safe to wait, given I'm flexible about which night I hear them?

I notice that they do play the Four Seasons on at least two of those nights, but I haven't heard it *that* often as a proper orchestral piece (as opposed to a cell phone ring or something). So I wouldn't mind that at all.

One thing that threw me for a bit of a loop. The online registration process at that web site asks for your Tax ID number. That seemed very peculiar to me. I just left the space blank.

If I do purchase from the web site, how do I pick up the tickets?

BlueSwimmer

I saw and loved Interpreti Veneziani at the Chiesa San Vidal. It was a magical experience.

If you go in the winter, wear something warm!

Peggyann

WillTravel: I've never done the tickets on line, but I imagine that they hold the tix for you. I suppose you could email them and ask. They are good at responding. See if they know yet if and when Davide Amadio will be there. One thing, try to get to the church at least 20 - 30 minutes before the concert. It does get filled quickly and you will want to get good seats. But really, in such a place the seats are all good. I personally love the Four Seasons! They also play other pieces (Mozart, Bach...)

Omsam

Just HAVE to add my vote to the Interpreti Veneziani at the Chiesa San Vidal. It is a magical experience in a lovely setting in a wonderful part of the city. You will enjoy any of the concerts. I purchased their CD of the Four Seasons and it is marvelous. (Brings me back to Venice, anytime I play it!)

GAC

The performances at the Scuola di San Rocco are special because of the venue: you gaze at the masterpieces of Tintoretto on the ground floor walls as the artists play. During intermission, they turn on the lights on the second floor, and you are allowed to go upstairs to marvel at the Tintoretto frescoes of the Old and New Testament on the ceiling and walls, as well as his Crucifiction masterpiece. These are unquestionably the most remarkable cycle of paintings in the entire city, comparable to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. And, by attending the concert, you save the regular admission price to the Scuola of Euro 5.50.

mr_go

If any of them are wearing a gorilla suit, I would be suspicious.

myraao

I agree with those recommending Interpreti Veneziani, performing at the Chiesa San Vidal. You can get tickets on the date of the performance without a problem. Just get to the church when the doors open to get a decent seat. Davide Amadio is an animated cellist. If you have a choice of only one of their programs, make sure you choose one that features him. It's well worth €22 (cash only).

Margaretlb

I agree with Peggyann (could it be I'm simpatico because of our name My husband and I so enjoyed the Interpreti Veneziani performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons that we attended another concert by them the following night. Most hotels have tickets for E22. I've also heard good reviews about the group that performs at Ca' Papafava which is in Cannareggio so that may be convienient although it's located on a dark, small, out of the way alley. The San Vidal venue is very easy as it's so close to the Accademia vaporetto stop.

abevigoda

Before listening to the performance, I was very skeptical of the Interpreti Veneziani at the Chiesa San Vidal. I assumed it was a second-rate tourist trap. But l too, came away impressed/entertained by Davide Amadio and his mates. A great concert/travel experience is one you'll remember. And every time my wife and I talk about the gig, or go into one of our Amadio impersonations...we have a great laugh...recalling a great Venetian experience we shared with one another.

linawood

We went to an organ/soprano concert in the Frari Basilica in October, and it was so beautiful I had tears in my eyes. I remember thinking - THIS is why I travel.

TopMan

Linawood: if you cried and had those feelings then the "quality" of the music was obviously outstanding whether the musicians were wearing suits, costumes, had the night off rom somewhere else, were famous, not famous, etc., etc.

WillTravel

I'm not sure how good this option is, but it's another option nonetheless:

http://www.comune.venezia.it/turismo/faq_eng.asp#14
Where can I listen to an ancient music concert?

The Fondazione Querini Stampalia, a splendid aristocratic Venetian residence (and subsequently famously renovated by Carlo Scarpa and Mario Botta), offers several ancient music concerts. The cost is included in the admission price to the museum (6 euro).
======

The page for that residence is here:
http://www.querinistampalia.it/museo/concertini.html

I'll try to figure out the Italian translation later.

Eloise

It's a slow day at the office, so here is the more or less useful information for the Querini-Stampalia concerts.

They last 30 minutes and are given by teachers and students of the Scuola di Musica Antica of Venice, every Friday and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The price of the concert is included in the admission of 6 Euros; no reservations are taken.

The Querini-Stampalia is also a museum with some interesting paintings. The most fun to look at are the 18th-century scenes from Venetian life by Bellotto (a much less gifted precursor of Canaletto) and the genre paintings of Pietro Longhi (also 18th century).

WillTravel

Eloise, thanks for that translation. That sounds good, and if I can fit it in, I will go to that.

I haven't been able to find an up-to-date concert listing for Accademia di San Rocco. The web page was last updated in 2003. Does anyone know what concerts they are playing, if any, from Dec. 27-31?

NYCFoodSnob

I believe Accademia di San Rocco tours in winter. They're scheduled to be in NYC in March. I don't recall ever seeing them perform in
Venice during the Christmas season. Their Venice schedule typically coincides with high season and their website ought to eventually reflect that.