In 1575/77, Venice was hit by an unusually severe plague epidemic that devastated a third of the population.
In order to avert the epidemic, construction of the Chiesa del Redentore began as early as 1575. At the inauguration of this church and at later services, music was performed by the best composers of the city.
Some of these works can be heard here by the outstanding singers and instrumentalists of the ensemble Concerto Palatino, including Hana Blazikova, Alex Potter and Veronika Skuplik, conducted by Bruce Dickey.