La Dolce Maniera presents 'Dolcissimo Veleno', dedicated to Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa (1566-1613), an emblematic figure of the end of the Renaissance.

Prince of the highest order, passionate about hunting and music, unfortunately famous for having brutally murdered his wife and her lover, Gesualdo is also considered as one of the most revolutionary composers in musical history. Gesualdo does not represent the tragedy of human existence but, on the contrary, he experiences it, painting it with incredible violence. The oxymorons and the contrasts constantly present in his music constitute contradictions of human existence: there is no dolcezza (sweetness, tenderness, pleasure, joy) without veleno (venom, poison, yearning and suffering), as shadows would not exist without the light.

Gesualdo published six books of madrigals between 1594 and 1611. La Dolce Maniera provide an overview of his profane works, with at least one madrigal from each book in this programme of 20 madrigals.