On 24 June, the feast of St John the Baptist, I was taken to Vespers in the church of SS Giovanni and Lucia where I heard the most perfect music I had ever heard in my life. It was directed by the most famous Claudio Monteverdi, maestro di cappella of S. Marco, who was also the composer and was on this occasion accompanied by four theorbos, two cornettos, two bassoons, one basso di viola of huge size, organs and other instruments all equally well handled, not to speak of ten or twelve voices. I was delighted with it.

A competent and credible performance, good enough that the audience could experience the work. The instrumental forces approximated an authentic ensemble. True, the bowed strings were all modern, except for a viol da gamba [sic] played beautifully by a woman unnamed in the program. But there were theorbos, a portatif organ, harpsichord and, most interestingly, three cornettos. The cornetto was on the verge of obsolescence even in Monteverdi’s time. It looks like a warped oboe without any keys, but it is played with puckered lips, like a trumpet. In fact, it sounds a lot like a thin-voiced trumpet.When used in ensemble with the trombones Wednesday, it produced a beautiful, archaic sound . . . there were seven solo singers, some of whom specialize in early music, and all of whom had the technique and stylistic knowledge to sing Monteverdi convincingly . . . All in all, a fitting season opening for the National Arts Centre Orchestra.