Baroque Music from Naples (1650 – 1750)

The programme for all participants at the summer school is dedicated to Baroque music from Naples. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Naples was the beating heart of European musical life. Driven by its prestigious conservatories and vibrant opera houses, the 'Neapolitan School' attracted musicians from across the continent. This summer, we dive into this rich, expressive, and virtuosic Neapolitan repertoire, exploring both compelling orchestral works and sacred music for soloists, choir, and orchestra.

During the daily afternoon sessions, singers and instrumentalists join forces to perform dramatic vocal-instrumental pieces from the Neapolitan Baroque. Our central repertoire includes:

• Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: selected orchestral movements — an illustration of the poignant, lyrical, and intensely dramatic style that made Pergolesi legendary throughout Europe.
• Alessandro Scarlatti: representative sacred works and choruses — highlighting the ingenious counterpoint and vocal mastery of the founding father of the Neapolitan School.
• Francesco Durante & Leonardo Leo: selected sacred concertos and double-choir psalm settings — featuring rich string writing, expressive solos, and vibrant choral fugues.