Interpreti Veneziani - The Four Seasons In Venice

Interpreti Veneziani ”A new ensemble on the Italian and international concert scene!” This is how, in 1987, the Interpreti Veneziani made their debut, immediately gaining a reputation for the ”...youthful exuberance and all-Italian brio characterising their performances”. A datum point in a worldwide musical panorama, the Interpreti Veneziani reached their XXIV Concert Season in Venice, which includes more than 60.000 viewers every year from all around the world. The great talent of the musicians that compose this group, permits them to interpret the Baroque, Classical and Modern repertory with virtuosity, involving emotionality and interpretive variety, the keys to success from the audience and the critics, obtained in every concert. Their important achievements include appearances in the Melbourne Festival, in the Bayruth Festival and concerts at Stockholm´s Royal Palace, participating in the World Vision telemarathon at the Kirov Theatre to mark the ”reinstatement of the name St. Petersburg”, a concert at the Osaka Symphony Hall in live broadcast for the Japanese radio, concerts at the Tokyo Suntory Hall and Kjoi Hall. United States, Japan, Canada, Latin America alternate every year in their calendar with concerts in the most prestigious halls. This year they were they main characters in the tour in South America, which touched the most important theatres in Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina, in a tour in Brazil and one in the USA. Next year they’ll return to Japan, Australia and Canada. The Interpreti Veneziani´s recording activity includes the production of the first compact disc with the music publishers Musikstrasse containing Giuseppe Tartini and other 18 compact discs recorded with In.Ve.Nice Sound.

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Place

This is a deconsecrated but still active church, easy to find because of its proximity to the Accademia bridge and campo Santo Stefano. Founded in 1084 by Doge Vitale Falier who dedicated it to his name saint (Vidal is sometimes spelled Vitale).

This 2nd century saint was a wealthy man from Milan, married to St. Valeria, and their sons, Gervase and Protase, became saints too and have their own church in Venice (San Trovaso). For years, the clergy of San Vidal would lead an annual procession over to Dorsoduro to visit the sons’ church, keeping it all in the family I guess. The most famous church dedicated to this Italian saint is the basilica in Ravenna.

Venice's church of San Vidal was rebuilt in the 17th century, and Canaletto’s painting, The Stonemason’s Yard, shows the reconstruction in progress. The church was closed along with so many others after the fall of the Republic.

There’s a sweet little note in Lorenzetti’s guide book (Venice and Its Lagoon) published in the early 20th century. He notes that San Vidal is closed but says that if you want to visit it, you can ask the nearby flower seller for a key. Simpler times in Venice…

In his 1985 book, Vidal in Venice, Gore Vidal reported that dozens of cats lived in the campo next to this church, supported by local ladies and doing well. At that time, the church was an art gallery.

Well, the cats are gone, alas, and today, the church hosts concerts by Interpreti Veneziani and has recently joined the Chorus Pass organization and is now the headquarters for its cultural activities.

This church is almost always open and is worth stopping in since there are several nice paintings inside, including an Annunciation by Sebastiano Ricci and a Guardian Angel with Saints by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta.

The best is over the main altar, a painting of San Vidal on horseback by Carpaccio (I say, never pass up an opportunity to see a Carpaccio!). Hugh Honour (Companion Guide to Venice) says that he’s sure that Carpaccio used the San Marco horses as models for the horse in this painting. Here's a video of Interpreti Veneziani performing a Vivaldi cello concert in front of the Carpaccio.