FARINELLI

Angelo Manzotti, sopranist (male soprano)

Style: the most well-known opera arias of the 18th century: from Vivaldi to Haendel, Porpora to Broschi

Line up: sopranist and ensemble varying from 4 to 15 components

Angelo Manzotti, winner of the 1992 “Luciano Pavarotti” International Competition of Philadelphia, is one of today’s few opera singers capable of reproducing the perilous and virtuoso arias of Farinelli, the most famous of the 18th century “castrati”. Over the course of the performance Manzotti changes outfits several times – accurate copies of the lavish theatrical costumes of Farinelli.

The Desdemona Ensemble performs with antique instruments so as to reproduce the velvety and luxurious sound which distinguished the Venetian musicians of the Baroque period. The Line up of the ensemble varies from the basic quartet to the complete ensemble of flute, oboe, 6 violins, 2 violas, violoncello, violin, archlute and harpsichord.