In this intimately shot video, members of La Vaghezza perform Sinfonia 9 (primo libro) by Jewish composer Salomone Rossi (1570-1630).

As well as a composer, Rossi was a violinist alongside Claudio Monteverdi in Mantua, leading the orchestra for many of Monteverdi’s premieres. He was the first to compose contemporary-styled pieces to Hebrew texts and also pioneered the trio sonata genre that was becoming fashionable across Europe during the 17th century.

Italian period-instrument ensemble La Vaghezza comprises violinists Mayah Kadish and  Ignacio Ramal, cellist Anastasia Baraviera, Gianluca Geremia on theorbo and Marco Crosetto on organ. The work features from the ensemble’s debut album Sculpting the Fabric, which was released on Ambronay Editions, Outhere Music in 2021.

The recording producer, balance engineer and editor was Christoph Frommen, with video by Cesare Mangiocavallo.

La Vaghezza will feature as part of Vache Baroque’s ’Rossi 400’ project. The multi-event project will celebrate 400 years since Salomone Rossi published his collection ‘The Songs of Solomon’ in 1623. On Wednesday 13 December 2023, the Vache Baroque Singers and La Vaghezza, along with director Jonathan Darbourne, Kate Conway on viol and Kristiina Watt on lute and theorbo, will present a programme of vocal and instrumental music by Salomone Rossi and his contemporaries in a programme entitled ‘A Baroque Hannukah’. The concert will take place at St John’s Smith Square. More information can be found here: sjss.org.uk/events/baroque-hanukkah 

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Calendars

American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.