Le Consort

At the end of the 1600s, London experienced an artistic golden age, with the arrival of many foreign musicians and the proliferation of theatres and concert halls where audiences came to listen to the stars of the moment. One of these musicians was the Italian Nicola Matteis, who arrived around 1660 and became the sensation of the London music scene. Purcell was only a child at the time and there is no evidence of them ever meeting, but it is very likely that Purcell was familiar with Matteis' works, including his Ayres, recorded here for the first time in a version for four-part consort. This effervescence in London gave rise to some surprising discoveries, such as the music of a mysterious composer who published trio sonatas around 1715 under the name Mrs Philarmonica. The Consort presents the very first recording of this highly interesting music, undoubtedly influenced by Corelli and probably composed by a female musician who, given the conventions of the time, used a pseudonym. Unfortunately, her true identity remains unknown to us.