Monday, September 29 marks the return of Nel segno di Apollo. Ciclo di incontri tra Arte e Musica (In the sign of Apollo, a series of encounters between Art and Music). After the first meeting in June, the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence is pleased to host the event Ut pictura musica: Saint Cecilia and the dialogue between the arts, the second appointment of the series conceived by the Galleria’s Historical-Artistic Department in collaboration with the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini di Firenze and with the contribution of the Association of Friends of David.

Dedicated to Apollo, God of Music and the Arts, the cycle offers an interdisciplinary interpretation of several works of art from the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, thanks to a dialogue between an art historian and a music historian, with live musical performances by the Conservatory.

These events bring music back to the museum, strengthening the link between the painting and sculpture collection of the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Museum of Musical Instruments, the result of a collaboration between the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini and the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.

The event Ut pictura musica: Saint Cecilia and the dialogue between the arts will be held on Monday, September 29, in the left transept of the Tribuna, nd will focus on the painting Madonna col Bambino, san Giovannino, le Sante Lucia, Cecilia, Agnese, Apollonia, Caterina, Elisabetta e figure allegoriche della vita attiva e contemplativa, created by Alessandro Allori in 1575 for the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence.

Starting from the depiction of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music, Dr. Alessandra Nardi, Art Historian of the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, and Prof. Maurizio Biondi, professor of Music of History at the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini, will discuss Alessandro Allori’s painting and Georg Friedrich Händel’s music.

The Ensemble vocale e strumentale del Centro di Musica Antica (Center for Early Music) – directed by Prof. Martino Noferi, professor at the Conservatorio Luigi Cherubini di Firenze – will perform pieces by Georg Friedrich Händel, excerpts from the oratorios: Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (1707), Alexander’s Feast, or the Power of Music, an Ode in honour of St. Cecilia’s day (1736) e The Triumph of Time and Truth (1757).

The Ensemble consists of: Elena Casaglia (soprano), Martino Noferi (flute and oboe), Paolo Cantamessa (first violin), Amedeo Scorcelletti (second violin), Valeria Brunelli (cello), and Vera Alcalay (harpsichord).

The Nel segno di Apollo series will conclude on Monday, October 13, at 6:00 p.m, with a debate on the depiction of processions of angel musicians in early 15th-century altarpieces and the polyphonic music of the period. Dr. Elvira Altiero, art historian at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze and Prof. Guglielmo Pianigiani, professor of music history at the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini will explore the theme starting with the Incoronazione della Vergine tra santi, cherubini, serafini ed angeli musicanti, painted in 1401 by Spinello Aretino in collaboration with Niccolò di Pietro Gerini and Lorenzo di Niccolò di Martino. The meeting will conclude with a performance by the Ensemble polifonico of the Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini, conducted by Prof Santa Tomasello.

All meetings in the Nel segno di Apollo cycle are free of charge, subject to availability.