ECHO Young Ambassadors

Con maniera: Mannerism in Music and Visual Arts

ECHO Young Ambassadors, organ and harpsichord
Tove Kyvik, Xinjie Li, Benedetta Porcedda, Artur Szczerbinin

Mannerism, which emerged in Italy in the 16th century, was a reaction to renaissance proportion, balance and clarity. In fact, the new style had a significant impact on the development of all forms of art. Composers and other artists were searching for their own, individual style, which at this time was visionary in many respects. The Mannerism in music was represented by complex harmony, frequently combined with chromaticism and dissonance, elaborated chord progressions and modulations as well as surprising harmonic and melodic choices.

In visual arts the Mannerism was reflected in unnatural, artificial and sometimes asymmetrical figures (figura serpentinata). The poses were very often exaggerated and created dynamic or dramatic compositions, enhanced by strong colour contrast. Although mannerism in many aspects was a foundation for baroque style it also influenced composers and other artists in late romanticism and in the 20th century.

In the concert program, ECHO Young Ambassadors will present music in the style of mannerism, or influenced by this style over the centuries, combined with presentations of the most famous and emblematic paintings and sculptures created within the same trend.