Vivaldi in Diamantina

Diamantina is a fine jewel of a town. It was built in the 18th century during the brazilian ´´era of the gold“ by the bandeirantes because diamonds were found in the nearby river. It developped, with the other wonderful historic cities of the state of Minas Gerais, its own version of baroque in architecture,painting,sculpture and music. Its priviledge(!) over its peer cities is that it is quite isolated amidst a voluptuous landscape. Life flows at a peacuful pace embellished by elegant churches, palazzi and private houses which cling to the sloppy ground without any intention to change it. These builidings, colourful and well maintained, give the visitor the feeling of strolling in a living, open air museum. The whole set decently carries the pride of the glorious past. Music, instrumental or choral, is cherished in Diamantina. People organise the Vesperatas, concerts given on the balconies and the windows of historic houses from March on. I attended a rehearsal of the local conservatory orchestra of a modern, sacred music work. The musicians were friendly and kind, talented and devoted. The first movement (allegro non troppo) of this concerto by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) came into my mind as a suitable music to what i lived there. I thought of the venitian baroque master because of the Passadiço da Gloria, 1876, the blue suspended passage in my photos, which at that time served as an orphanage. Flute, because it is an instrument of pastoral origin; a tender, lonely …

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