Le Grazie Veneziane : Musica degli Ospedali - Music from the Ospedali

The Ospedali in Venice had developed, over the course of their existence, from being purely charitable orphanages into renowned centres of Venetian musical culture. Far beyond the borders of Venice concerts given by musical young ladies trained at the Ospedali became celebrated during the 18th century. Sacred music written for female singers and instrumentalists, and performed by women in the churches, existed at that time only in Venice. This unique musical tradition became widely famous largely through the works of such notable composers as Vivaldi, Hasse, Porpora and Galuppi, who were active as teachers at the four "Ospedali grandi". Tonal beauty, almost floating choralpassages and virtuosic solo sections create the especial fascination of the works presented on this CD "Le Grazie Veneziane". The soloists Maria Grazia Schiavo, Emanuela Galli, José Maria Lo Monaco and the ladies of the Vocal Concert Dresden, under the direction of Peter Kopp, recreate what was described euphorically as the "heavenly singing" at the Ospedali in the 18th century.