Andrew Foote

West Australian Opera

Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa - Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza (1566-1614) was one of music’s most unique composers, admired to this day for his adventurous harmonic innovation and word painting. Writing mostly for a cappella choirs (without accompaniment), his setting of liturgical text was both unusual and controversial.

Added to this, his personal life was dramatic and violent. Finding his wife, Donna Maria d'Avalos, in fragrante delicto with the Duke of Andria he had them both murdered, mutilated their corpses and had their remains hung from the balcony of his apartments. Stricken by the violence of this event he instructed his servants to repeatedly tie him down and flog his servants to repeatedly tie him down and flog him.

Secret Opera