“Carmelite Vespers 1709” presents a reconstruction of musical performances in Rome in 1709, based on a new critical edition by Italian Handel expert Angela Romagnoli.

In early 18th century-Rome the holiday of Madonna del Carmine was celebrated with a lavish musical pasticcio. Italian Early Music specialist Alessandro de Marchi, his Academia Montis Regalis and an excellent ensemble of solo vocalists present the reconstruction of such a service as it might have been performed in 1709 under the direction of Venetian master Antonio Caldara (1670–1736). The programme combines lesser-known but stunningly beautiful pieces by Caldara himself with famous motets by his predecessor Handel such as “Dixit Dominus” or “Laudate pueri”.

Italian conductor Alessandro De Marchi is one of today's leading specialists in the field of historic performing practice, on both original and modern instruments. His opera repertoire ranges from Monteverdi, Cavalli, Vivaldi and Handel through Keiser, Pergolesi and Hasse to works by Haydn, Mozart and Cimarosa. De Marchi also performs operas by Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti on original instruments, and sees these in a historic context between Baroque and Classical opera.

The stunning cast of top-league international Baroque singers includes Roberta Invernizzi, Robin Johannsen, Martin Oro, Markus Brutscher and Antonio Abete.

2 CDs; Running Time approx. 100min

Booklet with Liner notes in English, German and French, Libretto in Latin