From the 17th to 19th centuries Naples was counted among the European capitals of music; traditions of both composition and performance were fostered, supporting a local culture that was hungry for music, and the city’s conservatoires started to producemusicians who occupied positions ofprestige both in their home city and at the courts and theatres across the continent. Out of the recently founded ‘Neapolitan School’ came a wealth of celebrated composers as well as the gradual romanticisation of the organ, which acquired new ‘concert stops’ in addition to a complete pedalboard; this release focuses on bringing to light the variety of music that started to be written for the newly improved instrument. As well as including the esteemed names of Pergolesi, Scarlatti and Durante, the recording takes in contemporaries whose music proves no less lively or elegant: from Porpora, particularly famed for his vocal music, to de Majo, from Alitieri to Zingarelli, the latter of whose sonatas reflect the prevalent style galante,the lively and brilliant style of the works draws attention to the then dominance ofoperatic culture across all musical genres.The pieces are performed by keyboardist Emanuele Cardi, a Renaissance and Baroque specialist who also takes an active interest in the restoration of ancient organs. The recording was made in the Church of San Nicola di Bari in Italy, whose 1889 Giuseppe Picardi organ faithfully reflects the stylistic evolution detailed above.

Emanuele Cardi at the Giuseppe Picardi organ (1889) of the Church of SanNicola di Bari, Coperchia (Italy)