about the orchestra

il pomo d'oro is an orchestra founded in the year 2012 with a special focus on opera, but equally committed to instrumental performance in various formations.  The musicians united in this group are among the best to be found worldwide for authentic interpretation on period instruments. They form an ensemble of outstanding quality, combining stylistic knowledge, highest technical skills, and artistic enthusiasm. The collaboration with violinist and conductor Riccardo Minasi has already led to an award winning first recording (Vivaldi, 'Per l'Imperatore'). Recently, il pomo d'oro recorded 3 solo CDs with three countertenors - Max Emanuel Cencic, Franco Fagioli and Xavier Sabata under Riccardo Minasi's direction, as well as a recording of Venetian Barcarole, sung by Vincenzo Capezzuto. Numerous concerts (Paris, Munich, London, Lyon, Barcelona, Geneva among others) and further recordings are scheduled for the year 2013.
The name of the orchestra refers to the title of an opera by Antonio Cesti, composed for the wedding of Emperor Leopold I of Austria with Margarita Teresa of Spain in Vienna in 1666. The opera was the final part of an imperial celebration of incredible multimedial splendour, starting with fireworks of 73.000 rockets and a horse-ballet of 300 horses. With its twenty-four different stage sets and stunning special effects like collapsing towers, flying gods and sinking ships, „Il Pomo d’Oro“ was probably the most excessive and expensive operatic production in the then young history of the genre. It provided roles for fifty singers, and it lasted ten hours –ten hours of magnificent spectacle and beautiful music.