Shade LA Festa DI Stacy (skit)

Eighteenth century Naples was not only a creative, cultural melting pot, but also one of the most important cities in Europe. Full of impressive contrasts between decay and splendour, and with an immense artistic output whose musical influences stretched across Europe, attracting many musicians and composers, Naples was a source of fascination and has retained its appeal to the current day.

Three Venetian contemporaries named Antonio - one, Vivaldi, achieved world fame with his concerti. But who has heard of Antonio Lotti and Caldara today? In their time, they were famous composers beyond the borders of Venice, and yet some of their music has lain dormant in archives for over three hundred years. Now selected alto cantatas by Lotti as well as oratorio introductions and an "Ave Regina" by Caldara may reawaken attention: paired with the "Nisi Dominus", RV 608, and two rousing concerti by Vivaldi, the baroque orchestra la festa musicale and the internationally acclaimed countertenor Alex Potter present an album full of virtuoso and touching musical treasures by the three Antonios from the Canal Grande.

Tracking down the miracle of Bach's music: masterworks such as the Brandenburg Concertos have awakened the ensemble's spirit of discovery. In order to better understand their inner architecture and genius, ensemble member Christoph Harer, in collaboration with his colleagues, has created baroque transcriptions from Bach's originals, producing three "Neubrandenburg Concertos". A harpsichord concerto becomes music for three competing string trios; solo and chamber music is transformed into colourful concerto movements for different instrumentations. And a simple vanitas song is transformed into a dreamy string aria. Performing these works, la festa musicale reaches top form: solo parts are distributed across the entire orchestra, and the concertos are carried by the virtuosity and imagination of many. The creative play with originals opens up new and unexpected perspectives on Bach's great music.

Tracking down the miracle of Bach's music: masterworks such as the Brandenburg Concertos have awakened the ensemble's spirit of discovery. In order to better understand their inner architecture and genius, ensemble member Christoph Harer, in collaboration with his colleagues, has created baroque transcriptions from Bach's originals, producing three "Neubrandenburg Concertos". A harpsichord concerto becomes music for three competing string trios; solo and chamber music is transformed into colourful concerto movements for different instrumentations. And a simple vanitas song is transformed into a dreamy string aria. Performing these works, la festa musicale reaches top form: solo parts are distributed across the entire orchestra, and the concertos are carried by the virtuosity and imagination of many. The creative play with originals opens up new and unexpected perspectives on Bach's great music.

Tracking down the miracle of Bach's music: masterworks such as the Brandenburg Concertos have awakened the ensemble's spirit of discovery. In order to better understand their inner architecture and genius, ensemble member Christoph Harer, in collaboration with his colleagues, has created baroque transcriptions from Bach's originals, producing three "Neubrandenburg Concertos". A harpsichord concerto becomes music for three competing string trios; solo and chamber music is transformed into colourful concerto movements for different instrumentations. And a simple vanitas song is transformed into a dreamy string aria. Performing these works, la festa musicale reaches top form: solo parts are distributed across the entire orchestra, and the concertos are carried by the virtuosity and imagination of many. The creative play with originals opens up new and unexpected perspectives on Bach's great music.

Hello, fans of genuine 70's Italian Prog… Rejoice! Fabio Zuffanti (Finisterre) came out with his new side project, La Maschera di Cera. The music mounts back to the best Mellotron / Moog driven symphonic prog performed by bands like Museo Rosenbach or IL Balleto Di Bronzo. All the ingredients are in place: distorted basses, accoustic guitars, an excellent vocalist and very inspired flute passages complete the set. The result is a nostalgic flash-back to the roots of the italian prog. A must for fans of this country's very best!

La Coscienza di Zeno is quickly becoming the new "enfant terrible" of Italian prog, 3 sensational albums into a career that just keeps giving vivid music that adheres to the classic elements that makes RPI so attractive to many , and puzzling to some others.
La Coscienza di Zeno is named after a well-known Italian novel, the title of which translates into English as ''Zeno's conscience''. The band initially played a modern style of progressive music that was influenced by the giants of UK prog rock. In fact, while they were working on their debut album they recorded a track for the Yes tribute project "Tales from the Edge"…

About ten years from the now distant 2007, when the first foundations of this project were laid, one of the current Italian progressive rock scene most important bands, La Coscienza di Zeno, signs for AMS Records; while waiting to give life to their 4th record, they celebrate this event with the release of "Il giro del cappio", a live album recorded on 26 February 2016 in The Netherlands. "Il giro del cappio" consists of seven long and complex tracks for over seventy minutes of music in which, from classical to hard rock, various genres overlap and intertwine with impressive and apparent simplicity. Almost one third of the album is occupied by the suite "Giovane figlia", what could be called the 'Side A' of the band's third album "La notte anche di giorno"; four are the tracks taken from the eponymous 2011 debut, while the concert is opened and closed with two songs from "Sensitività" (2013).

Seven long years separate La Maschera di Cera’s previous studio album (“Le Porte del Domani”, the ideal follow-up to Le Orme’s concept album “Felona e Sorona”) and “S.E.I.”, a great comeback for one of the key groups in the recent renewed interest for the glorious and unique Italian Progressive Rock of the ’70s. Warm symphonic atmospheres, Italian lyrics and a vocal style that often reminds the melodrama tradition: this is what has often characterized this musical genre and perfectly fit the band’s proposal.
“S.E.I.” renews the compositional skills of the current members of the group, based on very specific sounds: imaginative keyboards, ever-changing rhythmic patterns, a full-bodied wind instruments section, a powerful distorted bass that makes up for the absence of the electric guitarю…