Both Venice and Hamburg were once major commercial ports in European history. International trade brought them immense wealth, while the convergence of peoples and cultures fostered a fertile ground for artistic flourishing.

Since the fifteenth century, Venice’s churches, merchants, and rulers have actively patronised music. As a thriving centre of trade between East and West, the city absorbed diverse influences from North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, enriching its musical landscape. 

Drawn by its vibrant musical scene, many of the most renowned early Baroque composers—including Marini and Gabrieli —chose to live and work in Venice. Musicians from across Europe also travelled to the city to study and work; among them was Schütz, considered the greatest German composer before Bach. The works of these composers deeply shaped the evolution of Western classical music, and later German Baroque masters such as Telemann and Händel absorbed the Italianate style into their own compositions.

Seventeenth-century Europe was a time of profound religious, political, and economic transformation. With the opening of the Atlantic trade routes, Hamburg rose to become one of the most important port cities in northern Europe—and simultaneously a vibrant cultural hub. It became the heart of the North German organ school and proudly hosted Germany’s first public opera house.

For this year’s Hong Kong Early Music Festival, Concerto da Camera has chosen Venice and Hamburg as the focal points of our musical journey. We have curated a diverse selection of vocal and instrumental works to showcase the rich musical cultures of these two iconic cities.

The Festival comprises four concerts. The first two, The Exploration in Venice, spotlight early Baroque music from Venice alongside works by German composers inspired by the Venetian style. The final two, The Golden Era in Hamburg, turn to Hamburg, presenting music by composers shaped by the city’s vibrant artistic energy. Between the pieces, there will also be English narration that illuminates these lesser-known hidden gems from multiple perspectives.

The concert will also unveil two freshly commissioned works by Italian composer Mario Colbacchini and local composer Lee Wai Shan, each evoking the spirit of Venice and Hamburg in a vivid musical dialogue.

Since its founding, Concerto da Camera has been dedicated to promoting early music to the public, while fostering exchange and collaboration between local and international artists. We are steadfast in our commitment to performing on period instruments and employing historical vocal techniques, bringing new inspiration from the past to life, and offering audiences a truly unique musical experience.