Thanks to the generosity of funders Continuo Foundation and Arts Council England (Culture Recovery Fund Round 2) members of La Serenissima are preparing for 4 days of sessions during June in fabulous (favourite) venue Cedars Hall at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset). The group will be reunited to record a new album of works by Dall’Abaco, Brescianello, Sammartini, Vivaldi and Zavateri, bringing some extraordinary works to light from a host of Italian composers. Adrian is extremely excited to be shining a light on some truly great music that will be new to many listeners.

In addition to the recording which will be released on Signum, the group is working with producer Bill Lloyd to create podcasting material for the very first time. Adrian will be hosting two long-form podcasts aimed at an engaged adult audience, looking at the development of the Italian concerto and some of the personalities involved. Of the project, Bill says: “It’s a fascinating story, since it exploded on the musical world almost without precedent in the space of no more than a couple of decades. There’s an interesting theme about girls training up as musicians which began over a century earlier in the courts of Mantua and Gonzaga.” 

We will also make new digital outreach content aimed at Key-stage 2 children, including a short film dedicated to the recorder, showcasing the talents of recorder star Tabea Debus.

This project will be only the second piece of large-scale work the group has been able to carry out since the Covid-19 pandemic; we are delighted to be creating work for 17 musicians and other freelancers through the project and are enormously grateful to new trust Continuo Foundation as well as Arts Council England for their support which is making this possible.