Marcello: 6 Cantatas for Soprano and Continuo

The six cantatas that make up this world-premiere recording were composed by Benedetto Marcello in the early 18th century and are held in three different libraries: the Marciana in Venice, the library of the Naples Conservatory, and the State and University Library in Hamburg. They are therefore early works that are highly interesting due to their original composition and allow us to understand why their author was so highly regarded during his lifetime – he was even called the ‘Prince of Music’ – and also by posterity, as he succeeded in combining his personal sensibility with the lessons of tradition and the influences of a life full of cultural encounters. The compositional structure of these works – which are less well known than his concertos and theatrical works – follows the traditional format of alternating recitatives and arias. This does not prevent the composer from experimenting with innovative solutions, especially regarding the voice. Typical of Marcello's style is a penchant for the bizarre, with the use of harmonies that can sound 'exotic', sudden modulations, chromaticism, augmented sixth chords, and the melodic interval of the diminished fourth. I Solisti Ambrosiani are an Italian ensemble that specializes in early music and historically informed performance practice. They are welcome guests at numerous festivals and have already released several recordings.