The 'anime' are anonymous skulls in Naples' underground cemeteries for which women pray, believing they can reveal lottery numbers or ensure good marriage matches.
Historical Context
18th-century Naples was a major European city and a cultural melting pot, attracting many musicians and composers.
Album & Artwork
The album's concept is guided by the mythological figure of Parthenope, a siren who, according to legend, founded Naples.
Performer Biography
Barbara Heindlmeier, the recorder player and artistic director, released a world premiere recording of rediscovered baroque recorder sonatas by Andreas Heinrich Schultzen in 2015.
Performer Biography
Maria Ladurner, the soprano on this album, won the H.I.F. Biber Prize in 2019 and the Göttingen Handel Competition in 2021 with her Ensemble Mozaïque.
Cultural Impact
According to Neapolitan legend, the 'Monaciello' — a fairy-like character dressed like a monk — lives in the city's underground passages, playing tricks or leaving coins as a blessing.
Compositional Technique
Nicola Fiorenza, a Neapolitan composer and violin virtuoso, often used an unusual instrumentation in his works, amplifying the third violin part with a viola in unison.
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