“Splendor is this group’s natural element.” Opera News​ Music | France The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants is one of the most renowned and respected early music groups in Europe and around the world. Founded by celebrated harpsichordist and conductor William Christie in 1979, the ensemble has restored a significant number of forgotten Baroque and Classical works to the repertoire. Noted for its impassioned musicality, the ensemble’s discography numbers around 100 recordings, including, since 2013 for its own label, Les Arts Florissants Editions. In an Italian Garden is a celebration of Christie’s great passion, Italian lyric works from the 16th to 18th centuries, to be performed by instrumentalist of Les Arts Florissants and six outstanding young singers chosen from his master-class academy, Le Jardin des Voix. The first half of the concert explores the subjects of love, beauty, rage and jealousy with excerpts from the operas of Stradella, Vivaldi and Handel, as well as madrigals by the contemporaries of Monteverdi. The second half is conceived as a play-within-a-play with music by Cimarosa, Mozart and Haydn. PROGRAMME In an Italian Garden Banchieri: Già che ridotti siamo from Il Zabaione musicale, inventione boscareccia et primo libro de madrigali a cinque voci (1604) Stradella: Sinfonia and excerpts from Amanti olà olà, Accademia d’Amore Vecchi: L’humore musicale from Le Veglie di Siena, overo i varii humori della musica moderna Handel: “Ah! stigie larve, ah! scelerati spettri!” from Orlando, HWV 31 de Wert: Queste non son più lagrime from In quinto libro de Madrigali a cinque voci Vivaldi: “Ah sleale, ah spergiura” from Orlando furioso, RV Anh.84 Handel: “Lascia la spina cogli la rosa” from Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a Vivaldi: “Gelosia, tu già rendi l’alma mia” from Ottone in Villa, RV 729 “Care pupille” from La virtù trionfante dell’amore e dell’odio Cimarosa: “Vè che matta, maledetta!” from L’impresario in angustie Haydn: Excerpts from La Canterina, Hob.XXVIII:2 Sarro: Intermezzo from L'impresario delle Canarie Mozart: “Un bacio di mano”, KV.541 Porpora: Oh se fosse il mio core Haydn: “Son confuso e stupefatto” from Orlando paladino, Hob.XXVIII:11 MUSICIANS Music Direction: William Christie Co-direction of the Academy: William Christie, Paul Agnew Semi-staging by: Sophie Daneman, Paul Agnew Soloists of Le Jardin des Voix: Lucía Martín-Cartón, soprano (Spain) Lea Desandre, mezzo-soprano (France) Carlo Vistoli, countertenor (Italy) Nicholas Scott, tenor (United Kingdom) Renato Dolcini, baritone (Italy) John Taylor Ward, bass (United States) with the Orchestra of Les Arts Florissants