In the late 17th century, Naples was a vibrant cultural center where secular society and clergy met in salons and academies, fostering the development of the secular chamber cantata.
Interpretation
Ensemble Démesure, founded in 2006, focuses on the cantata genre and specializes in unpublished works from the Neapolitan Baroque School, pursuing musical chiaroscuro with scholarly passion.
Composition History
Caresana's secular cantatas on this album are recorded for the first time ever, with their manuscript sources preserved at the Oratorio dei Padri Filippini (Gerolamini) in Naples.
Instruments
Jorge Alberto Guerrero, the cellist, plays a cello built by Benoît Fleury in 1758.
Compositional Technique
Caresana's cantatas for solo voice and basso continuo feature distinct alternation between recitative and aria, with themes of love, bucolic settings, and contemplative or playful moods.
Performer Biography
Juliette de Banes Gardonne, the mezzo-soprano on this recording, founded the Ensemble Démesure with Italian musicians and her first project, 'Tesori del Barocco Napolitano', was featured in major festivals.
Composer Biography
Cristofaro Caresana, though Venetian by birth, became a prominent musician in Naples, a city known for its exclusive musical circles.
You might also enjoy...
Clérambault, Courbois & Colin de Blamont: Médée, Ariane, Circé, Héro... les déesses outragées
