SOMNIA – A Musical Descent into the Twilight Zone

Sleep has long occupied a unique place in the imagination of poets, philosophers and composers alike. From the mythological figures of Hypnos, Nyx and Morpheus to the perennial association between sleep, dreams and death, this liminal state has inspired some of the most evocative music of the seventeenth century.

In SOMNIA, Zefiro Torna explores this nocturnal landscape through a programme centred on the refined sound world of the early Baroque. Music by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger, John Dowland, Étienne Moulinié and Constantijn Huygens unfolds alongside traditional melodies from diverse musical cultures, revealing unexpected affinities across time and geography. Laments, lullabies and contemplative songs trace the delicate boundary between repose and oblivion, intimacy and transcendence.

The expressive voice of Lore Binon, supported by the intimate sonorities of Jurgen De bruyn's theorbo and lute, leads the listener through a dreamlike sequence in which historical repertoire and oral traditions resonate in dialogue. 

"Gods and goddesses abound here - - - So does magic: these performances are faultless, and so is the realization of concept. - - - I cannot recommend ZEFIRO TORNA enough: the performances are flawless, as is the recording. Somnia has a 100 percent guaranteed place in my next Want List." April 2026, ZZ3

---

As part of the Radio Klara (VRT) cruise with Chantal Pattyn to the Biennale di Venezia, SOMNIA will be presented in an exceptional Venetian setting, resonating well with the programme's nocturnal atmosphere. Surrounded by the unique architectural and cultural heritage of the lagoon city, the audience is invited to experience this intimate musical journey that embodies the Biennale's spirit of discovering art in extraordinary places.