And now for something completely different…

Set for global release on 15 May, our latest project will see us extend our pattern of pioneering exploration to the musical milieu of one of the best-known composers of the baroque era: Antonio Vivaldi.  The Venetian master came to Prague around early 1730 to oversee the production of his popular opera Il Farnace, which at this point did not contain the famous aria 'Gelido in ogni vena', but it was heard in Prague for the first time in Argippo, the same year. Prior to this, though, Vivaldi had several other important contacts in Prague. He dedicated his Op. 8 concertos to Count Morzin of Prague, for whose bassoonist, Anton Möser, he also composed a concerto [RV 496]. Vivaldi had previously acted as musical director for Morzin's ensemble when they travelled to Venice and Morzin's musicians became ardent admirers and imitators of Vivaldi. Fizzing with virtuosity and sumptuous melodies, this recording is a real treat for the senses. 

Also grabbing the headlines in this project is our first collaboration with the fabulous Czech soprano Hana Blažíková. She sings a newly-reconstructed aria from the pasticcio Praga nascente da Libussa, e Primislao (Prague, 1734), as well as 'Gelido in ogni vena' from Argippo (and later Il Farnace) and the aria for 'Fire' from František Miča's serenade Čtyři živlové [The Four Elements]—surely inspired by the popularity of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. This recording also features a world-premiere reconstruction of the first opera aria in the Czech language ever performed on stage: 'Veselí a zpíváme' [We are happy and sing] first sung by the Italian contralto Teresa Peruzzi in Prague in the 1727 pasticcio Il confronto dell’ amore coniugale, sung here by our good friend Ciara Hendrick (who won so many plaudits in our recording of Pepusch's Venus and Adonis). 

This project is generously support by a grant from The Continuo Foundation and from Angel Early Music.