Arianna in Rome: Arias Cantatas and Laments for the Seventeenth-Century Virtuose

Arianna in Rome features Arias Cantatas and Laments for the Seventeenth-Century Virtuose. Performed by soprano Carlotta Colombo with Anima & Corpo under the direction of Gabriele Pro. Alongside the renowned female composers of the 17th century, such as Francesca Caccini and Barbara Strozzi, and the leading singers (the prime donne) that dominated the stages of opera houses, such as Anna Renzi and Giulia Masotti, we should also appreciate the considerable number of excellent – yet largely unknown – “virtuose”. Though customarily concealed amidst the ranks of a court, serving as maids of honor to a queen, princess or noblewoman, these were extremely accomplished musicians who often provided vital inspiration for the celebrated composers of the day. This recording, which stemmed from a research project dedicated to the virtuose working in 17th-century Rome, presents a selection of compositions that may well have formed part of their repertoire. The famous Lamento d’Arianna stands out among these pieces, in a version that was preserved in a contemporary Roman manuscript that Monteverdi very likely brought with him during his visit to the papal city in the autumn of 1610. In this album, which marks her solo debut, Carlotta Colombo, one of the most highly esteemed singers in today's Italian Baroque scene, pays tribute to the creativity of these extraordinary women, thereby reinstating them to the center of their artistic environment and restoring to them the recognition that was often denied to them during their lifetime.

---

Carlotta Colombo, Soprano Anima & Corpo Gabriele Pro, Violin & Direction Ana Liz Ojeda – violin Matteo Pizzini – violin (track 10) Marc de la Linde – viola da gamba Matteo Coticoni – violone and double bass Giovanni Bellini – theorbo and guitar Chiara Granata – arpa doppia Nicola Procaccini – harpsichord