On Sunday, 25 October at 3:00 pm, the Seicento Baroque Ensemble will present a very different musical setting of a Vespers liturgy, the Vespro della Beata Vergine (“Vespers for the Blessed Virgin”), composed by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643). Representing the liturgical practices of seventeenth-century Roman Catholic Venice, Monteverdi’s ninety-minute work combines Gregorian chant with elements of both Renaissance a cappella polyphony and Baroque accompanied monody. The result, which has referred to as “the most ambitious work of religious music before Bach,” calls for single chorus, double chorus, numerous soloists, and various baroque string and wind instruments. Accompanied by baroque string players from as far away as Amsterdam who will join forces with the Washington (DC) Cornet and Sackbutt Ensemble, Seicento will be conducted by artistic director Evanne Brown. Visit www.seicentobaroque.org for more information.