Italian evening; Ensemble Mare Nostrum

ENSEMBLE MARE NOSTRUM

Ensemble Mare Nostrum, a Roman ensemble founded and directed by Andrea De Carlo, is one of the most original and surprising baroque ensembles in the panorama of ancient music, a true point of reference for the interpretation of Roman baroque music and in particular of operas of the great composer Alessandro Stradella. After the award-winning debut albums, 2013 saw the birth of The Stradella Project an internationally award-winning record collection for the Arcana label dedicated to the complete recording of Alessandro Stradella’s works. All the releases in the Stradella Project, Serenatas, Operas and Oratorios, have received great critical success and international appreciation. Maestro De Carlo’s innovative research on phonetics and recitar cantando have also been the subject of master classes, seminars and conferences for a decade, and will soon be published in print. An intense and multi-year musicological research activity also takes place within the Ensemble, which has led to the discovery of unpublished works, contributions to university research and the publication of critical editions.

Andrea De Carlo-conductor, viola da gamba

Andrea De Carlo was born in Rome, where he began his career as a jazz double bass player, later obtaining a diploma in double bass and viola da gamba while obtaining a degree in physics at the Sapienza University of Rome. Before dedicating himself to the viola da gamba he collaborated as first principal double bass with the Orchestra of the Teatro Massimo of Palermo, the Orchestra Regionale Toscana and the Orchestra Regionale del Lazio. As a viola da gamba player De Carlo has performed with the most important ancient music ensembles, with world tours and over 40 recordings. In 2005 he founded Ensemble Mare Nostrum, mainly devoted to the music of the Roman Baroque and in particular the works of Alessandro Stradella. After the ensemble’s first award-winning releases, De Carlo founded “The Stradella Project” a record collection of Alessandro Stradella’s complete works (ARCANA/OUTHERE label) and founded an ancient music festival dedicated to the composer, the Festival Alessandro Stradella di Viterbo e Nepi. As a conductor, among others, De Carlo has been invited from the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra of Parma, the orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the Orchestra “I Cameristi della Scala di Milano”.

Giulia Bolcato-soprano

Giulia Bolcato is a recognized performer of roles of great importance, ranging from baroque to contemporary music, always with great success among the public and critics. She has performed in some of the most important theaters, such as Teatro La Fenice of Venezia, Teatro Regio of Parma, Teatro Ponchielli of Cremona, Teatro Carlo Felice of Genova, Teatro Sociale of Como, Teatro Donizetti of Bergamo, Teatro Pavarotti – Freni of Modena, Teatro Olimpico of Vicenza, the Opera of Firenze, Royal Swedish Opera, Teatro Comunale of Bolzano, Opera Giocosa Savona, Meinfranken Theater Würzburg, collaborating with important conductors such as J. Savall, S. Montanari, R. Alessandrini, A. De Carlo, M. Angius, A. Schiff, I. Volkov, A. Cadario, D. Michieletto, M. Martone and many others. She has also won important international awards, including the “Cesti Singing Competition” in Innsbruck in 2017 and the Bergonzi prize at the 53rd International Competition”Voci Verdiane Città di Busseto” in 2015.

Danilo Pastore- countertenor

Danilo Pastore is among the most appreciated young Italian countertenor voices. He ranges from ancient music to contemporary repertoire, (Ensemble Mare Nostrum, Accademia del Ricercare, Cantores Graduales, Gli Invaghiti, Cappella Musicale Corradiana, Stradella Young Project, Divertimento Ensemble, Ensemble Bolognese San Pietro, Accademia La Chimera, Gesualdo Consort of Gesualdo…), and is the founder of La Estrella Ensemble, Selenografie Art Collective and Il Fauno Bianco, performing for renowned festivals and in the most important theaters in Italy and abroad, like Teatro Alighieri of Ravenna, Teatro Verdi of Pisa, Teatro Sociale of Como, Teatro Manoel at La Valletta, Teatro Carlo Felice of Genova, Teatro Ponchielli of Cremona, Teatro Malibran of Venezia, Teatro Olimpico of Vicenza, Teatro Fraschini of Pavia, Teatro Rossini of Pesaro among others. He has collaborated with important conductors, including Marco Berrini, Francesco Bossaglia, Roland Böer, Gianluca Capuano, Francesco Corti, Andrea De Carlo, Riccardo Doni, Francesco Erle, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Daniele Giorgi, Andrea Marchiol, Giorgio Mezzanotte, Andrea Morricone, Gianandrea Noseda.

Angelo Testori-tenor

Born in Bologna, after graduating in Violin he graduated also in Renaissance and Baroque Singing cum laude at the “B. Maderna” Conservatory in Cesena and subsequently obtained the Master degree in Ancient Music with top marks at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität in Wien, under the guidance of Roberta Invernizzi, further perfecting himself with a Master in Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (Basel). In 2022 he won the third prize at the “Francesco Provenzale” Baroque Singing Competition. In 2023 he won the third prize at the 6th San Colombano International Competition (sacred music section) and the second prize at the Marco Uccellini International Ancient Music Competition. He collaborates with various ensembles such as Ensemble Mare Nostrum, Balthasar Neumann Ensembles, Cremona Antiqua, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, BachWerkVokal Salzburg, Cantando Admont, Red Dot Baroque etc.

Masashi Tomosugi-baritone

Masashi Tomosugi was born in Kagoshima, Japan, and graduated at Showa Music University in Tokyo. Tomosugi‘s wide range of repertoire goes from baroque opera to modern opera. His signature roles are spacing from Leporello (Don Giovanni-Mozart) to Sharpless (M. Butterfly-Puccini) crossing also roles from Donizetti, Verdi, Rota, Bizet. His powerful voice commands stage presence all over Europe and Asia. He performed in important theaters such as Teatro Bibiena in Mantova, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro comunale Pavarotti-Freni of Modena, Teatro Greco in Taormina, Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, and Teatro Sferisterio of Macerata. In the early music repertoire, Tomosugi showcased his versatility in Stradella performances with excellent feedback from both the public and the specialized press, directed by Andrea de Carlo and his Ensemble Mare Nostrum.

“SANTA PELAGIA”

            ORATORIO FOR 4 VOICES AND BASSO CONTINUO

MUSIC BY ALESSANDRO STRADELLA

(born Bologna 3 July 1643- died Genova 25 February 1682)

Performers:

GIULIA BOLCATO soprano-SANTA PELAGIA

DANILO PASTORE countertenor -RELIGIONE

MASASHI TOMOSUGI baritone -MONDO

ANGELO TESTORI tenor- NONNO

MARGHERITA BURATTINI – harp

GIULIO FALZONE – theorbo

THOMAS CHIGIONI – violoncello

SERENA SEGHETTINI- viola da gamba

AMLETO MATTEUCCI – double bass

LUCIA ADELAIDE DI NICOLA – clavicembalo and organ