Alessandro Baricco’s “Notte eretica” drew a large audience to Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice for a journey through music in reverse, seeking what the performance presented as its most fundamental essence: sound. The show, inspired by his recent book “Breve storia eretica della musica,” was staged with creative direction by Gloria Campaner and hosted by Gog.
The Orchestra Canova was already on stage as audience members arrived, with conductor Enrico Saverio Pagano at the podium. Sections of the orchestra took turns rehearsing passages from the Prelude to Wagner’s “Parsifal.” Once Baricco entered, Pagano began the work in full.
The performance then moved backwards through musical history by gradually reducing the forces on stage. From “Parsifal,” Baricco turned to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the overture to Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and a concerto grosso by Corelli. As the ensemble became smaller, the program shifted its focus from orchestral instruments to the human voice.
Eight singers from Intende Voci Ensemble performed Palestrina’s “Sicut cervus.” The journey ended with Gregorian chant, after the performance had also set aside polyphonic structure. Baricco framed this progression as a return to sound itself, describing it as an immaterial element that precedes musical composition and structure.
The presentation also connected musical harmony with the idea of a universal order, invoking a Pythagorean conception of music. The account left questions open for the audience, including how to define evolution or progress when each era applies different standards. The performance received warm applause.
Sources: ANSA Cultura.