The Riviera del Brenta, a piece of Italian cultural landscape that stretches from the town of Stra to the Adriatic Sea and was created in the 16th century by the canalisation of the Brenta River, developed very early into a place of retreat and longing for rich Venetian families who used to spend the hot summer months in their own villas. The journey was made in boats specially built and equipped for this purpose, the so-called Burchielli. In addition to the noble ladies and gentlemen of society, these boats also transported adventurers, artists and comedians - the perfect theme for the stage, which in the case of «Barca di Venetia per Padova» by the composing Olivetan monk Adriano Banchieri was initially to be found at one of Venice's numerous markets.

Banchieri's music gives voice to a colourful array of characters - merchants, courtesans, students and strangers. Every conceivable form and manner, from lively dialogue passages to elaborate madrigals, love duets and burlesque arias punctuated by onomatopoeic «interventi», finds expression in it.

This delicious example of early Baroque music theatre is presented to you by the Ensemble Dramatodía. Under the direction of the singer and multi-instrumentalist Alberto Allegrezza, who was responsible for both the staging and the décor of the opera «L'amazzone corsara» at last year's Festival, it presents the second version of the work for five voices and basso continuo, which was printed in 1623, in the style and costumes of the commedia dell'arte.