Capitolo 6

Italian group formed in the early 70s in the region of Tuscany. The band had its peak in 1971 when they signed with the Italian subsidiary of RCA Records to release an album that was finished only after some time. Also in that year, the band played in festivals in their hometown, Viareggio and still came to opening for Led Zeppelin in Rome for thousands of people. The record is composed of only four but fabulous tracks, being the first a true gem worthy of what we know as Italian Progressive Rock. The track of almost 19 minutes, gives its name to the record and is conducted with extreme perfection with beautiful flute passages throughout its course…

Villa Pamphili is a double CD set with a selection of 32 tracks by Italian prog bands! In addition to major band tracks, this sampler includes also several rare tracks from vintage 7" singles by less known groups: Fholks, Fiori di Campo and even Krel (an early PFM line-up from 1970). Pay attention: while Villa Pamphili was a live 1970's concert, this double CD is not a live album from that concert.

Not the most conventional of avant-prog acts, Italians NichelOdeon have been a collective, a rather large one incorporating dozens more musicians/singers from all over the globe, since their formation in 1997. Following in the footsteps of their prog forefathers PFM, Goblin et al, their music incorporates a chamber rock element, if not an operatic one in the case of their project leader/composer, 7-octave singer Claudio Milano…

L'Enigma Della Vita (The Enigma of Life) is the third album by Logos, an Italian prog band from Verona that was formed in 1996. A long time has passed from their previous work Asrava, from 2001, but during all these years the band never stopped and kept on working on the new compositions, refining them, recording them without pressure nor hurry, with care, determination and love. The result is an excellent concept album conceived as a long suite about the life, nature and time passing by, a mature work where the band showcase great musicianship and personality blending vintage sounds, poetry and new ideas. The beautiful artwork by Luca Zerman and all the images that you can find in the booklet perfectly fit the poetical strength of the lyrics and the evocative power of the music.

Orazio Benevoli was one of the most important Roman Baroque composers. Born in Rome in 1605, as a twelve-year-old he joined the pueri cantores (choirboys) of the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, where he remained until 1623. The following year he assumed the post of maestro di cappella at Santa Maria in Trastevere; then at Santo Spirito in Saxia and later on at San Luigi dei Francesi. In 1644 he moved to Vienna to serve at the court of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Hapsburg. Upon his return to Rome he briefly served as maestro di cappella at Santa Maria Maggiore before becoming the choirmaster of the Cappella Giulia at the Vatican on November 7, 1646, where he remained for over 25 years until his death on June 17, 1672.