La Passione, la morte e il pianto fra libro, teatro e ritualità sulla scena milanese in età spagnola

This essay studies the diffusion of the “Passion of the Christ” theme in Milan during Spanish Age. First of all among theatre, both in compositions belonging to the genre of spiritual tragedy and in paraliturgical rites promoted by religious folds of the Ambrosian Church; then also, at the end of the seventeenth century, in oratorios executions. During the first half of the century, Franciscans and Jesuits printed and had performed tragic compositions; moreover they celebrated the Holy Week with the “Deposition of the Christ” rite and the Entierro procession. In the last decades of the seventeenth century many oratorios dedicated to the Passion of the Christ theme started to be produced and executed, promoted in particular by the Benedictines of S. Pietro Celestino’s church and by the Theatines of the S. Antonio’s convent. Also some scholars from the Accademia dei Faticosi, the most important Milanese academic association of the seventeenth century, were involved.