Absolute Parthenope

Description

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Naples emerged as one of Europe’s foremost musical centres. Habsburg rule encouraged exchanges with Vienna, and a new generation of musicians brought the instrumental concerto to new heights of virtuosity, elegance, and formal refinement. Angelo Ragazzi became a violinist at the Imperial Chapel in Vienna; Francesco Scarlatti and Nicola Matteis expanded the musical language by weaving together French and Central European influences; while Nicola Porpora, teacher of Farinelli and Haydn, became a star in London. In the second half of the century, Naples became an essential stop on the Grand Tour, welcoming English aristocrats and musicians such as Emanuele Barbella, whose works quickly spread throughout Europe.

Absolute Parthenope celebrates this distinctive musical character: virtuosic, brilliant, unpredictable, and always capable of conveying contrasting affections with great intensity. Naples emerges as a leading protagonist on the European musical stage, a bridge between Northern and Southern Europe, where the Baroque tradition meets the cosmopolitan taste of the age.

Tracklist