Giulio Caccini represents the birth of the madrigal soloist. As a virtuoso singer, he was able to convey the emotional power of a text to the audience. He was also a talented composer and a famous teacher who trained several singers, including his daughters Settimia and Francesca. Scherzi Musicali tells the story of Il Concerto Caccini, the Caccini father and daughters, based on several high points in their career such as their visit to the French court in 1604. Fragments will be sung from works ranging from Giulio’s first madrigals to Francesca’s opera La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (1625). Nicolas Achten will accompany himself on the lute, as was customary for Italian singers at the time.
Program
Selection from: G. Caccini: La Pellegrina, Euridice, Le nuove musiche (1602 & 1614), F. Caccini: La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina
Performers
Wei-Lian Huang, soprano | Emanuele Petracco, tenor | Lies Wyers, viol | François Dambois, liuto grosso, chitarrone & chitarrino | Beniamino Paganini, harpsichord & organ | Jean-Marc Amé, semi-staging & lighting | Nicolas Achten, baritone, harp, chitarrone & artistic leader