As a stronghold of Northern Europe and as the gate to the Orient, Venice and Hamburg shared the fate as early European republics. Even though liberty was limited, they are both early musical capitals, being two of the earliest European centres for commercial opera, one in the south and one in the north.

In this programme, extraordinary mezzo José Maria Lo Monaco takes us on a tour of these two opera republics, together with a selection of Scandinavian musicians under the guidance of brilliant Finnish violinist Kreeta-Maria Kentala.