Orto

1885. For the opera festival it has organized, the small town of Imlingen has invited a famous singer, Maddalena Dall'Orto, who will not only sing at the local opera but will also perform the part of Bach's St. Matthew's Passion at church. The lady is welcomed by an enthusiastic welcome committee comprising the Prince of Imlingen himself. After a while Maddalena, who has come with her friend Rohrmoser, reveals that they are both of German origin. In fact, Maddalena is Magda von Schwartze, a citizen of Ilmingen who has left home in anger a few years before…

Agorà came to life in 1974 in the province of Ancona, from the ashes of a band called Oz Master Magnus Ltd. The name of the band refers to a central public space in ancient Greek city-states and the literal meaning of the word is gathering place or assembly. The first line up featured Roberto Bacchiocchi (keyboards, vocals), Ovidio Urbani (sax), Renato Gasparini (guitar, vocals), Paolo Colafrancesco (bass, vocals) and Mauro Mencaroni (drums, vocals), all in love with jazz rock and influenced by bands such as Weather Report and Perigeo. Thanks to a good live activity and to a manager who spotted them, in 1975 they had the chance to play live at the Montreux Jazz Festival and signed a deal with Atlantic Records…