Recently we had one of those experiences that remind us why we love travelling around this part of Italy.
We went to the Archbishop’s Seminary at Ceneda for a concert by the Piccola Orchestra Veneta.

The concert took place in the chapel of the seminary, with its wonderful stained-glass windows, and it was part of the La Musica nel Sacro festival. This year is particularly special for the chapel, as it is celebrating the centenary of its dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The soprano Nabila Dandara was absolutely stunning in the Vivaldi motet with its o.so joyful alleluia finale. Her voice filled that chapel seductively there was something particularly appropriate about hearing Vivaldi in such an sacred setting not too far from his own home town.

The harpist Carolina Coimbra Patrocinio was also brilliant. She played with delicacy and confidence and her rendition of the Danse sacrée et profane by Debussy was a real highlight for me. It was one of those performances where you suddenly realise just how difficult the instrument is and how completely at ease the player seems to be with it.
There were also some wonderful violin solos, particularly in the Tartini, as well as some lovely playing from the other members of the orchestra. The whole performance had that combination of precision and freshness that seems to characterise the Piccola Orchestra Veneta.

And then there was the setting itself. The chapel is beautiful, and before the music we heard something about its history and architecture from.its rector. Sitting there, surrounded by the stained glass, listening to Vivaldi and Tartini, was a rather special experience.

And this is one of the things I love about our little journeys around northeast Italy. You can turn up in a town you’ve never really explored, walk into a beautiful historic building, and find an excellent orchestra and first-class musicians performing wonderful music.
These are the discoveries that make travelling around Italy so enjoyable. You don’t always have to go to La Scala or the Arena di Verona. Sometimes the most memorable music is waiting for you in a seminarist chapel in Ceneda.

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