Professor Christian Leitmeir at Palestrina500 conference

Professor Christian Thomas Leitmeir recently delivered a keynote at the quintencentary conference for the ‘Papal composer’ (modulator pontificus) Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina (1525-1594), held at the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome. He joined an illustrious line-up of contributors, including Monsignor Marcos Pavan (Musical Director of the Choir of the Sistine Chapel) and Dr Claudia Montuschi (director of the manuscript department at the Vatican Library) and Prof. Giancarlo Rostirolla (the leading Italian expert on Palestrina, and current director of the Fondazione Palestriniana) . Professor Leitmeir explored the transalpine reception of Palestrina’s music during the composer’s lifetime.