Myth

Featured in this section is an atmospheric and mysterious musical passage from Stradella’s Sinfonia in D Minor. The breathtaking, improvisatory dialogues between the violin and the cello not only resemble the dramatic representation of Perseus and Medusa, but also mirror the musical contest between Apollo and Marsyas.

The composer’s fine and prolific outputs have been overshadowed by his dramatic life story, almost mythical. In 1677, he was attacked by hired men shortly after signing the marriage contract with Agnese Van Uffele, which sparked a diplomatic dispute between France and Savoy. Five years later, Stradella was murdered by an assassin believed to be hired by Giovanni Battista Lomellino who was jealous of Stradella over a love affair.

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To enrich viewers’ appreciation of these two epic paintings, we have augmented the playlist with a variety of fitting music by Castello, Fontana, Purcell and more. (See ‘Baroque Playlist’ for more information)