Thanks for having me, Danielle! Loved our conversation — 12 years after that Met article! — and I'm so happy to have learned more about the town of Gesualdo and Carlo's castle through this episode. 💙
What fascinated me most after, first, listening to Gesualdo’s music, and then this podcast, was the fact that he didn’t have patrons to satisfy. Despite the horrific acts he committed, this turns a man who wrote this music four centuries ago into a relatable human being. Ok, sure, most of us haven’t murdered our spouse and their paramour, but to exorcise our most painful moments through art—so quintessentially human! I listened to the included book 6 madrigals again this morning while following the text and there’s just something so thrilling about returning “home”—after all that chromatic strife—on words like “death” and “sorrow” as if he found comfort in the discomfort, in the punishment, in the exile. Thank you both for spending time here with Gesualdo and introducing me to such a captivating story and, dare I say, gorgeous music!!
It's such a fascinating notion — what would artists create if they carried no concerns about money, adhering to an established style, or having to please fickle audiences? We don't have many examples of this in classical music. And you're absolutely right that Gesualdo's diary-like approach to the late madrigals humanizes him. (Albeit it in a way he may not deserve!)
I'm so glad you sat down with the text as you listened. Those moments of consonance on words like "death" and "sorrow" are jarring, but they speak to his profound need for release — from his sins, from the anguish he feels, from the world he can no longer be a part of. That ability to find glimpses of comfort amid misery is one of the many mysteries embedded deep within his scores. 💙
Exactly!! Perhaps this is why we often work so hard to separate the art from the [sinful] artist. We all hope to be redeemed and restored in the light of our creativity.
You’re in for a treat! Lush, cinematic music evoking different sites and festivals around Rome. The Pines of the Appian Way, the final track on that album, chokes me up every single time. 🥹
Wow, this was absolutely fascinating! I read something about Gesualdo when I visited the Sansevero Chapel, but loved this deep dive into his life and music.
Along sort of the same lines, have you visited the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo in Lazio?
So glad you liked it! Gesualdo is a complicated topic, I wasn’t sure how it would land, but after I found the Herzog documentary I couldn’t resist it anymore. I visited Bomarzo ages ago when I didn’t really know what I was seeing so I definitely need to return!
A tour guide told me that Prince Vicino Orsini, who commissioned it, fought with the Farnese family's army and then retreated to the solitude of Bomarzo and created the sculpture park. Some say it was dedicated to his late wife Giulia Farnese, who was painted by Raphael and died of an unknown cause at the age of 50. Seems like he may have been another tortured soul living around the same period. I wrote a short piece about the Sacro Bosco for Nuvo, but it may be worth digging deeper. https://nuvomagazine.com/daily-edit/sacro-bosco-a-mystical-sculpture-park-near-rome
Thanks for having me, Danielle! Loved our conversation — 12 years after that Met article! — and I'm so happy to have learned more about the town of Gesualdo and Carlo's castle through this episode. 💙
Which Italian composer should we talk about next?
If you want to map a musical walking tour of Rome, how about Ottorino Respighi and his Roman Trilogy? 😃
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kQ5VGdatWnLgDy_0NQ3aMRdRnu71oowls&si=8ZBS0-57eQqplREE
I don’t know who that is and I haven’t clicked on the link yet, but YES!
What fascinated me most after, first, listening to Gesualdo’s music, and then this podcast, was the fact that he didn’t have patrons to satisfy. Despite the horrific acts he committed, this turns a man who wrote this music four centuries ago into a relatable human being. Ok, sure, most of us haven’t murdered our spouse and their paramour, but to exorcise our most painful moments through art—so quintessentially human! I listened to the included book 6 madrigals again this morning while following the text and there’s just something so thrilling about returning “home”—after all that chromatic strife—on words like “death” and “sorrow” as if he found comfort in the discomfort, in the punishment, in the exile. Thank you both for spending time here with Gesualdo and introducing me to such a captivating story and, dare I say, gorgeous music!!
Thank you so much for sharing that. I live for interactions like this!!
Awesome! You both poured a lot of love and intrigue into this!
It's such a fascinating notion — what would artists create if they carried no concerns about money, adhering to an established style, or having to please fickle audiences? We don't have many examples of this in classical music. And you're absolutely right that Gesualdo's diary-like approach to the late madrigals humanizes him. (Albeit it in a way he may not deserve!)
I'm so glad you sat down with the text as you listened. Those moments of consonance on words like "death" and "sorrow" are jarring, but they speak to his profound need for release — from his sins, from the anguish he feels, from the world he can no longer be a part of. That ability to find glimpses of comfort amid misery is one of the many mysteries embedded deep within his scores. 💙
Exactly!! Perhaps this is why we often work so hard to separate the art from the [sinful] artist. We all hope to be redeemed and restored in the light of our creativity.
You’re in for a treat! Lush, cinematic music evoking different sites and festivals around Rome. The Pines of the Appian Way, the final track on that album, chokes me up every single time. 🥹
Wow, this was absolutely fascinating! I read something about Gesualdo when I visited the Sansevero Chapel, but loved this deep dive into his life and music.
Along sort of the same lines, have you visited the Sacro Bosco di Bomarzo in Lazio?
So glad you liked it! Gesualdo is a complicated topic, I wasn’t sure how it would land, but after I found the Herzog documentary I couldn’t resist it anymore. I visited Bomarzo ages ago when I didn’t really know what I was seeing so I definitely need to return!
A tour guide told me that Prince Vicino Orsini, who commissioned it, fought with the Farnese family's army and then retreated to the solitude of Bomarzo and created the sculpture park. Some say it was dedicated to his late wife Giulia Farnese, who was painted by Raphael and died of an unknown cause at the age of 50. Seems like he may have been another tortured soul living around the same period. I wrote a short piece about the Sacro Bosco for Nuvo, but it may be worth digging deeper. https://nuvomagazine.com/daily-edit/sacro-bosco-a-mystical-sculpture-park-near-rome
Oh wow, visiting by candlelight, I want to do that!
They're actually hosting a special evening there on August 30th! The park will be open until midnight with guided tours and apericena.
Gah I wish I could be there! Are you going?
I think I'll try to go!