Singer Pur, Villa I Tatti, Florence, Italy
I had written a madrigal (Book Four no.1) for the Villa I Tatti (The Harvard Centre for Italian Renaissance Studies) in 2004 and I was asked to write some pieces in memory of Craig Hugh Smyth, a former director, in whose name a new library was being opened. I wrote four pieces, two by Petrarch and one each by Bronzino (Craig Smyth’s specialism) and Battiferri. It was good to have the chance at last to work with Singer Pur, who have sung pieces of mine before. We have been trying to get together for some time and this was the ideal opportunity.
GB and SP in garden. Photo: Giovanni Trambusti