L’Invenzione

Naples, Italy, was not only a musical performance center in the 18th Century, it was also a place where many musicians were educated. There were four different conservatories teaching composition, singing and a variety of instruments. This kind of boom in musical education was fueled by the celebrated careers of the castrati who performed throughout Europe with their astonishing voices. Naples was also a place where European powers clashed, with the Austrians and Spaniards alternating control over the city. In addition to material goods, these empires left the city with aspects of its culture and music. This interesting juncture made Naples a cradle for late Baroque/Pre-Classical music which would eventually spread all over Europe. Famous musicians went to Naples to observe, learn and leave infused with its unique approach and style. One noteworthy case is that of Aloys Thomas Raimund von Harrach, an Austrian viceroy of Naples who compiled the music of that time in large manuscripts containing works of Neapolitan composers and their counterparts beyond the Alps. We like to think of the mixture of styles found in these manuscripts as a musical dialogue, an evolution in form. The spirit and the idea is, therefore, to let the audience piece together a personal puzzle, connect the music, the styles, find similarities and differences and travel along with us in music.